McIndoe lecture, 1978. Burns: McIndoe's contribution and subsequent advances.

My first aim is to present the state of burn care during the few years before the Battle of Britain in August-October 1940. This gives the climate of thought in which McIndoe and his collegues faced the challenge of burns. We are inclined to forget the helplessness of surgeons faced with extensive burns at that time. Some of the great changes in burn management in the past 40 years are then described and a claim is made that the results show a real improvement in treatment.