Gladys Dick
Encyclopedia
Gladys Rowena Henry Dick (December 1881 – August 21, 1963) was an American
physician
who co-developed a vaccine for scarlet fever
with her husband, George F. Dick.
, she earned her Bachelor of Science from University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1900. Her family objected to her going to medical school, but she eventually moved away and earned her M.D. from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in 1907. She then did postgraduate work at the University of Berlin. She moved to Chicago in 1911 and contracted scarlet fever while working at Children's Memorial Hospital
. After recovering, she took a research position at University of Chicago
. She and her future husband began investigating the causes of scarlet fever, and they were married in 1914. They began their research at Evanston Hospital, then moved to the John R. McCormick Institute for Infectious Diseases.
In 1923 they isolated hemolytic streptococcus as the cause of scarlet fever, then developed the Dick Skin Test and developed toxin and antitoxin production methods, which were patent
ed in 1924 and 1926. They were widely criticized for the patents, but they argued that the patents maintained quality control
. They brought a successful suit against a manufacturer in 1930.
Though their vaccine was superseded by penicillin
in the 1940's, their work was recognized for a Charles Mickle Fellowship Award from University of Toronto in 1926 and formal recognition by the University of Edinburgh
in 1933. Dick went on to be active in polio research and was an advocate for adoption
. Dick died of cerebral arteriosclerosis in Palo Alto, California
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
who co-developed a vaccine for scarlet fever
Scarlet fever
Scarlet fever is a disease caused by exotoxin released by Streptococcus pyogenes. Once a major cause of death, it is now effectively treated with antibiotics...
with her husband, George F. Dick.
Life and career
Born in Pawnee City, NebraskaPawnee City, Nebraska
Pawnee City is a city in Pawnee County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 1,033 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Pawnee County.-Geography:Pawnee City is located at...
, she earned her Bachelor of Science from University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1900. Her family objected to her going to medical school, but she eventually moved away and earned her M.D. from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in 1907. She then did postgraduate work at the University of Berlin. She moved to Chicago in 1911 and contracted scarlet fever while working at Children's Memorial Hospital
Children's Memorial Hospital
Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago, Illinois is a pediatric hospital. The main hospital is located in the Lincoln Park neighborhood on the north side of the city. With more than 1,100 physicians on staff and approximately 4,000 employees, Children’s Memorial focuses on 70 specialties in 17...
. After recovering, she took a research position at University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
. She and her future husband began investigating the causes of scarlet fever, and they were married in 1914. They began their research at Evanston Hospital, then moved to the John R. McCormick Institute for Infectious Diseases.
In 1923 they isolated hemolytic streptococcus as the cause of scarlet fever, then developed the Dick Skin Test and developed toxin and antitoxin production methods, which were patent
Patent
A patent is a form of intellectual property. It consists of a set of exclusive rights granted by a sovereign state to an inventor or their assignee for a limited period of time in exchange for the public disclosure of an invention....
ed in 1924 and 1926. They were widely criticized for the patents, but they argued that the patents maintained quality control
Quality control
Quality control, or QC for short, is a process by which entities review the quality of all factors involved in production. This approach places an emphasis on three aspects:...
. They brought a successful suit against a manufacturer in 1930.
Though their vaccine was superseded by penicillin
Penicillin
Penicillin is a group of antibiotics derived from Penicillium fungi. They include penicillin G, procaine penicillin, benzathine penicillin, and penicillin V....
in the 1940's, their work was recognized for a Charles Mickle Fellowship Award from University of Toronto in 1926 and formal recognition by the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
in 1933. Dick went on to be active in polio research and was an advocate for adoption
Adoption
Adoption is a process whereby a person assumes the parenting for another and, in so doing, permanently transfers all rights and responsibilities from the original parent or parents...
. Dick died of cerebral arteriosclerosis in Palo Alto, California
Palo Alto, California
Palo Alto is a California charter city located in the northwest corner of Santa Clara County, in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, United States. The city shares its borders with East Palo Alto, Mountain View, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Stanford, Portola Valley, and Menlo Park. It is...
.