Person
Butler, Hildred Mary (1906 - 1975)
- Born
- 9 October 1906
Elsternwick, Victoria, Australia - Died
- 8 April 1975
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia - Occupation
- Bacteriologist and Microbiologist
Summary
Hildred Butler was a bacteriologist noted for her research into the specific bacterial causes of infections during and after childbirth. Working first at the Baker Medical Research Institute and then, for over 30 years, at the (Royal) Women's Hospital, Melbourne, she identified anaerobic streptococci as causative agents in childbed fever (puerperal sepsis). She developed a method of diagnosis from stained slides which allowed treatment to be started immediately. Recognised as a pioneer in this field, her work was also acknowledged for the mass of statistical data she collected. While at the Hospital she closely worked with obstetrician Arthur Hill, and helped establish a 24/7bacteriological service. Butler was active in professional organisations, being Treasurer of the Victorian Society of Pathology and Experimental Medicine from 1940 to 1956, and serving as President of the Association of Hospital Scientists in Victoria. She recorded her findings in twenty-one papers published both in Australia and overseas.
Details
Chronology
- 1928
- Education - Bachelor of Science (BSc), University of Melbourne
- 1928 - 1938
- Career position - Bacteriologist at the Baker Medical Research Institute
- 1937
- Publication - Blood cultures and their significance
- 1938 - 1954
- Career position - Bacteriologist, Women's Hospital
- 1940 - 1956
- Career position - Treasurer, Victorian Society of Pathology and Experimental Medicine
- 1946
- Education - Doctor of Science (DSc), University of Melbourne
- 1954 - 1971
- Career position - Bacteriologist, Royal Women's Hospital
- 1958
- Career position - President, Association of Hospital Scientists in Victoria
- 1964 - 1965
- Career position - President, Association of Hospital Scientists in Victoria
- 1971
- Life event - Retired
Related entries
Colleague
Published resources
Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Exhibitions
- McCarthy, Gavan; Morgan, Helen; Smith, Ailie; van den Bosch, Alan, Where are the Women in Australian Science?, Exhibition of the Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, First published 2003 with lists updated regularly edn, Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, 2003, https://eoas.info/exhibitions/wisa/wisa.html. Details
Books
- Butler, Hildred M., Blood cultures and their significance (London: J. and A. Churchill, 1937), 327 pp. Details
Book Sections
- Attwood, H.D., 'Butler, Hildred Mary (1906-1975), microbiologist' in Australian dictionary of biography, volume 13: 1940 - 1980 A-De, John Ritchie, ed. (Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 1993), p. 320. https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/butler-hildred-mary-9646. Details
Journal Articles
- Borger, J. G., Nguyen-Robertson, C. V. & Harris, J., 'Trailblazing women immunologists of Australia and New Zealand', Immunology and cell biology, 99 (4) (2021), 338-43, https://doi.org/10.1111/imcb.12454. Details
- Butler, Hildred M., 'The use of stained smears for the rapid diagnosis of infection with Str. Haemolyticus group A', Australian journal of experimental biology and medical science, 25 (2) (1947), 87-94. Details
- Hill, Arthur and Leslie, David, 'Hildred Mary Butler', Medical Journal of Australia, 1975 (2) (1975), 844-5. Details
Resources
- Wikidata, http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q21664241. Details
- 'Butler, Hildred Mary (1906-1975)', Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, https://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1465295. Details
See also
- Danks, D.; Duffield, A.; Sargeson, A., 'Berthold Halpern 1923-1980', Historical Records of Australian Science, 5 (4) (1983), 72-81. https://doi.org/10.1071/HR9830540072. Details
- Watson-Munro, C. N., 'Stuart Thomas Butler 1926-1982', Historical Records of Australian Science, 5 (4) (1983), 83-90. https://doi.org/10.1071/HR9830540082. Details
Ailie Smith and Helen Cohn
Created: 25 May 2001, Last modified: 18 August 2026