Herbert Dudley Purves (25 September 1908 – 15 April 1993) was a New Zealand academic,
chemist
A chemist (from Greek ''chēm(ía)'' alchemy; replacing ''chymist'' from Medieval Latin ''alchemist'') is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties. Chemists carefully describe t ...
,
mathematician
A mathematician is someone who uses an extensive knowledge of mathematics in their work, typically to solve mathematical problems.
Mathematicians are concerned with numbers, data, quantity, structure, space, models, and change.
History
On ...
, medical researcher and scientist.
Biography
He was educated at Hastings West Primary School and
Napier Boys' High School. Purves' academic strengths showed early for he received prizes for Science in the third form, for Mathematics in the fourth form and for Latin, Mathematics and Science in the lower 6th. He won the Isabella Siteman scholarship which was awarded to the highest ranking
Hawkes Bay
Hawke's Bay ( mi, Te Matau-a-Māui) is a local government region on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island. The region's name derives from Hawke Bay, which was named by Captain James Cook in honour of Admiral Edward Hawke. The region is ...
student who did not make the Scholarship list. The scholarship required Purves to study science or medicine at the
University of Otago
, image_name = University of Otago Registry Building2.jpg
, image_size =
, caption = University clock tower
, motto = la, Sapere aude
, mottoeng = Dare to be wise
, established = 1869; 152 years ago
, type = Public research collegiate ...
. In 1926 he travelled to
Dunedin
Dunedin ( ; mi, Ōtepoti) is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand (after Christchurch), and the principal city of the Otago region. Its name comes from , the Scottish Gaelic name for Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. Th ...
to study
physics
Physics is the natural science that studies matter, its fundamental constituents, its motion and behavior through space and time, and the related entities of energy and force. "Physical science is that department of knowledge which r ...
,
chemistry and
mathematics. He majored in chemistry, earning a BSc in 1928 and an MSc with first-class honours in
chemistry in 1931.
Purves' working life was spent in full-time medical research at the
University of Otago Medical School
The Dunedin School of Medicine is the name of the School of Medicine that is based on the Dunedin campus of the University of Otago.
All University of Otago medical students who gain entry after the competitive Health Sciences First Year prog ...
in Dunedin. He began in 1932, as a research assistant to Sir
Charles Hercus, then Professor of Bacteriology and Public Health.
Purves was later supported by funds from a Medical Research Council grant for research into thyroid problems, administered by a committee headed by Sir Charles Hercus. Hercus encouraged Purves to take the Medical course, which he did between 1935 and 1941 when he graduated MB/ChB. In 1941 Purves became Principal Research Officer and Director of the
New Zealand Medical Research Council's Thyroid Research Department in Dunedin which later became the
Endocrinology
Endocrinology (from '' endocrine'' + '' -ology'') is a branch of biology and medicine dealing with the endocrine system, its diseases, and its specific secretions known as hormones. It is also concerned with the integration of developmental event ...
Research Unit. In 1968 the Unit became the Laboratory of Experimental Endocrinology and Metabolism, and in 1971, The Neuroendocrinology Group. Purves played a leading role in the abolition of thyroid enlargement (goitre) which once disfigured nearly 20% of the population.
Purves' merits were recognised by his colleagues in Dunedin who made him President of the University of Otago Medical Research Society in 1955 and on his retirement, a life member of the Society. The endocrinologists of New Zealand elected him President of the New Zealand Society of Endocrinology from 1963 to 1968, and his colleagues abroad conferred on him the title of Distinguished Thyroid Scientist at the seventh International Thyroid Conference in 1975.
Honours and awards
In 1967, Purves was elected a
Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand
A fellow is a concept whose exact meaning depends on context.
In learned or professional societies, it refers to a privileged member who is specially elected in recognition of their work and achievements.
Within the context of higher education ...
. He was elected a
Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians
Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, abbreviated as the post-nominal initials FRACP, is a recognition of the completion of the prescribed postgraduate specialist training programme in internal adult or internal paediatric medicin ...
in 1970, and in 1972 he was conferred with an
honorary DSc by the University of Otago.
In the
1974 Queen's Birthday Honours, Purves was appointed a
Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George, for services to medicine.
In 1987, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary celebration of the Medical Research Council the
governor-general, Sir
Paul Reeves
Paul may refer to:
*Paul (given name), a given name (includes a list of people with that name)
*Paul (surname), a list of people
People
Christianity
* Paul the Apostle (AD c.5–c.64/65), also known as Saul of Tarsus or Saint Paul, early Chri ...
, presented Purves with a special silver medal in recognition of his outstanding contribution to medical research.
Death
He died on 15 April 1993, aged 84, after a long illness.
Family
Purves married
Daphne Helen Cowie in 1939. She survived him as did their two daughters and one son.
References
External links
bookplate.infoRsnz.org
{{DEFAULTSORT:Purves, Herbert Dudley
1908 births
1993 deaths
New Zealand Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George
New Zealand endocrinologists
People from Dunedin in health professions
University of Otago alumni
20th-century New Zealand medical doctors
New Zealand medical researchers