Fisher, Bradford Hill, and randomization

Abstract

In summary, then, we should dismiss any thoughts of competitive claims for priority between Fisher and Hill. Fisher was clearly the progenitor of randomization as an integral part of rigorous comparative experimentation, although the idea had already been broached by others such as CS Peirce, the 19th century American philosopher. Hill, aided by colleagues such as Philip D'Arcy Hart and Marc Daniels in the streptomycin trial, had the ability and personality to persuade the medical profession that this was the way forward. Scientific medicine owes them both a great debt of gratitude.