Hildred Mary Butler facts for kids

Hildred Mary Butler (born October 9, 1906 – died April 8, 1975) was an important Australian microbiologist. She studied tiny living things like bacteria. Her work helped doctors understand and treat infections, especially those affecting mothers and babies.

Early Life and Education

Hildred Mary Butler was born in Elsternwick, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia. Her father, Archie Butler, was a farmer. Her mother was Rose Josephine Hancock.

Hildred went to Lauriston Girls' School. After that, she studied at the University of Melbourne. She earned two important degrees there: a Bachelor of Science (BSc) and a Doctor of Science (DSc). These degrees showed her deep knowledge in scientific fields.

A Career in Science

Hildred Butler dedicated her life to studying bacteria. From 1928 to 1938, she worked as a bacteriologist at the Baker Medical Research Institute. A bacteriologist is a scientist who studies bacteria. Bacteria are tiny living things, some of which can cause diseases.

Later, from 1938 to 1971, she worked at the Royal Women's Hospital. This hospital helps women and their babies. At the hospital, Hildred helped create a special service. This service provided bacteriological testing 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This was very important for quickly finding and treating infections in patients.

Important Contributions

Hildred Butler was a leader in her field. She was the treasurer for the Victorian Society of Pathology. She also served as president of the Association of Hospital Scientists in Victoria. These roles showed her dedication to science and her ability to lead other scientists.

In 1937, she wrote a very important book called Blood Cultures and Their Significance. This book was about how to study blood samples to find infections. Her research also focused on infections that could happen during or after childbirth. She published 21 scientific papers about her findings. These papers were shared with doctors and scientists in Australia and other countries. Her work helped make childbirth safer for many women and their babies.

Hildred Butler retired in 1971. She passed away at the Royal Women's Hospital in Melbourne when she was 68 years old. Her work made a lasting difference in medical science.