Dora Lush

Dora Lush

Dora Mary Lush (31 July 1910 – 20 May 1943) was an Australian bacteriologist.[1]

Early life

Lush was born in Hawthorn, Victoria, the daughter of John Fullarton Lush, a clerk, and his wife Dora Emma Louisa (née Puttmann).[1] She was educated at Fintona Girls' School[2] and the University of Melbourne, gaining a B.Sc. in 1932 and an M.Sc. in 1934.[1] She was an active sportswoman, being selected for the University of Melbourne's women's basketball team.[3]

Research

Lush worked at the National Institute for Medical Research, London, from early in 1939. She returned to Australia. Her work on the influenza virus was praised in 1940.[4] She worked with Frank Macfarlane Burnet at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research on a scrub typhus vaccine in 1942[1] as scrub typhus was a serious health risk to Australian soldiers engaged in jungle warfare in New Guinea in World War 2.[5][6]

Death

On 27 April 1943 Lush accidentally pricked her finger with a needle containing scrub typhus while inoculating a mouse. There was no effective treatment at the time for this often fatal disease. She died four weeks later, on 20 May 1943.[1][7] Before her death she insisted that blood samples be taken from her to aid research.[1][6]

Lush was cremated at Springvale Crematorium on 22 May 1943.[2]

Legacy

The National Health and Medical Research Council now offers postgraduate scholarships named in her honour.[8][9]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Rasmussen, Carolyn. "Lush, Dora Mary (1910–1943)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: Australian National University. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
  2. 1 2 "Lost Life in Cause of Science". The Argus (Melbourne). 21 May 1943.
  3. ↑ "RETURN OF HOCKEY TEAM.". The Australasian (Melbourne, Vic. : 1864 - 1946) (Melbourne, Vic.: National Library of Australia). 15 August 1931. p. 50. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  4. ↑ "U.S. Tribute To Australian Doctors' Work.". News (Adelaide, SA : 1923 - 1954) (Adelaide, SA: National Library of Australia). 21 October 1940. p. 4. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  5. ↑ "A SCIENCE NOTE: ABOUT THE UNPLEASANT NEW GUINEA BUSH "MOKKA".". The Australasian (Melbourne, Vic. : 1864 - 1946) (Melbourne, Vic.: National Library of Australia). 24 June 1944. p. 13. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  6. 1 2 "X-Ray Martyr Left Only £13 Estate.". Worker (Brisbane, Qld. : 1890 - 1955) (Brisbane, Qld.: National Library of Australia). 24 May 1943. p. 3. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  7. ↑ "Family Notices.". The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) (Melbourne, Vic.: National Library of Australia). 21 May 1943. p. 2. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  8. ↑ "Miss Dora Lush". Retrieved 2015-08-17.
  9. ↑ "Dora Lush, the Australian scientist and war hero you've never heard about". Retrieved 2015-08-17.

External links

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