Glen Dettman
Encyclopedia
Glen Dettman was an Australian pathologist and medical writer who, in 1950, founded the Oakleigh Pathology
Service. He was the author of over 50 technical papers, 28 of which are listed on PubMed
, and was awarded in 1978 the Australian Medal of Merit for outstanding scientific research.
's Veterinary Research Institute. Dettman joined the Australian Army Medical Corp on 17 Jan 1944, and was discharged a year later on 26 Jan 1945 as Staff Sergeant
, where he assisted with the original organisation of a blood bank
and was involved with the initial use of penicillin
. Dettman later served as a commissioned officer for the Australian army, where he tutored upon army health, with particular emphasis on the value of immunization
s. At the time, he was a technical officer with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
(CSIRO), and his research activities included such fields as antibiotic
s, bovine mastitis
, and staphylococcal
studies, which yielded a modified staphylococcal vaccine
.
In 1950, Dettman founded the Oakleigh Pathology Service and was later elected as a Registered Pathology Practitioner. The Australasian College of Biomedical Science in 1969, appointed Dettman to head a research team to investigate the claims of Archie Kalokerinos
in relation to immunization hazards and the efficacy of vitamin C
. Kalokerinos' claims were that many infants were dying as the result of vitamin C deficiencies and that these deaths could be prevented by the injection of the vitamin. According to Kalokerinos, the vitamin C deficiencies could result from infections, gut disturbances including parasitic infestation and other immune insults including vaccination. Dettman's research substantiated Kalolerinos' claim that most of the children were vitamin C deficient, becoming a witness to the dramatic effect that injections of Vitamin C had in saving the lives of many young infants. Dettman's observations had such an impact, he became a firm believer in vitamin C and joined forces with Kalokerinos in promoting the benefits of vitamin C.
Dettman was married to Nancy and fathered three children, Ian, Clive, and Robin.
Pathology
Pathology is the precise study and diagnosis of disease. The word pathology is from Ancient Greek , pathos, "feeling, suffering"; and , -logia, "the study of". Pathologization, to pathologize, refers to the process of defining a condition or behavior as pathological, e.g. pathological gambling....
Service. He was the author of over 50 technical papers, 28 of which are listed on PubMed
PubMed
PubMed is a free database accessing primarily the MEDLINE database of references and abstracts on life sciences and biomedical topics. The United States National Library of Medicine at the National Institutes of Health maintains the database as part of the Entrez information retrieval system...
, and was awarded in 1978 the Australian Medal of Merit for outstanding scientific research.
Education and career
After earning his B.A. and PhD at the Independent University of Australia, in 1936 Dettman started his career as a laboratory technician trainee at the University of MelbourneUniversity of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
's Veterinary Research Institute. Dettman joined the Australian Army Medical Corp on 17 Jan 1944, and was discharged a year later on 26 Jan 1945 as Staff Sergeant
Staff Sergeant
Staff sergeant is a rank of non-commissioned officer used in several countries.The origin of the name is that they were part of the staff of a British army regiment and paid at that level rather than as a member of a battalion or company.-Australia:...
, where he assisted with the original organisation of a blood bank
Blood bank
A blood bank is a cache or bank of blood or blood components, gathered as a result of blood donation, stored and preserved for later use in blood transfusion. The term "blood bank" typically refers to a division of a hospital laboratory where the storage of blood product occurs and where proper...
and was involved with the initial use of penicillin
Penicillin
Penicillin is a group of antibiotics derived from Penicillium fungi. They include penicillin G, procaine penicillin, benzathine penicillin, and penicillin V....
. Dettman later served as a commissioned officer for the Australian army, where he tutored upon army health, with particular emphasis on the value of immunization
Immunization
Immunization, or immunisation, is the process by which an individual's immune system becomes fortified against an agent ....
s. At the time, he was a technical officer with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation is the national government body for scientific research in Australia...
(CSIRO), and his research activities included such fields as antibiotic
Antibiotic
An antibacterial is a compound or substance that kills or slows down the growth of bacteria.The term is often used synonymously with the term antibiotic; today, however, with increased knowledge of the causative agents of various infectious diseases, antibiotic has come to denote a broader range of...
s, bovine mastitis
Mastitis
Mastitis is the inflammation of breast tissue. S. aureus is the most common etiological organism responsible, but S. epidermidis and streptococci are occasionally isolated as well.-Terminology:...
, and staphylococcal
Staphylococcus
Staphylococcus is a genus of Gram-positive bacteria. Under the microscope they appear round , and form in grape-like clusters....
studies, which yielded a modified staphylococcal vaccine
Vaccine
A vaccine is a biological preparation that improves immunity to a particular disease. A vaccine typically contains an agent that resembles a disease-causing microorganism, and is often made from weakened or killed forms of the microbe or its toxins...
.
In 1950, Dettman founded the Oakleigh Pathology Service and was later elected as a Registered Pathology Practitioner. The Australasian College of Biomedical Science in 1969, appointed Dettman to head a research team to investigate the claims of Archie Kalokerinos
Archie Kalokerinos
Archivides "Archie" Kalokerinos is an Australian physician. In 2000 he was awarded the title Greek Australian of the Century by the Melbourne-based Greek newspaper Neos Kosmos. He holds controversial opinions on a number of medical issues...
in relation to immunization hazards and the efficacy of vitamin C
Vitamin C
Vitamin C or L-ascorbic acid or L-ascorbate is an essential nutrient for humans and certain other animal species. In living organisms ascorbate acts as an antioxidant by protecting the body against oxidative stress...
. Kalokerinos' claims were that many infants were dying as the result of vitamin C deficiencies and that these deaths could be prevented by the injection of the vitamin. According to Kalokerinos, the vitamin C deficiencies could result from infections, gut disturbances including parasitic infestation and other immune insults including vaccination. Dettman's research substantiated Kalolerinos' claim that most of the children were vitamin C deficient, becoming a witness to the dramatic effect that injections of Vitamin C had in saving the lives of many young infants. Dettman's observations had such an impact, he became a firm believer in vitamin C and joined forces with Kalokerinos in promoting the benefits of vitamin C.
Dettman was married to Nancy and fathered three children, Ian, Clive, and Robin.
Publications
- Vitamin C: Nature's Miraculous Healing Missile!, with Ian Dettman and Archie Kalokerinos ISBN 0-646-11985-0
Past memberships in learned societies
Reference source:- Fellow of the Institute of Science Technology (UK)
- Life Fellow of the Royal Society of Health (London)
- Life Fellow Royal Microscopic Society (UK)
- Fellow of The Australasian College of Biomedical Scientists
- Fellow of The International Academy of Preventive Medicine
- Fellow of The Hong Kong Medical Technologists Association
- Life Fellow International Academy of Biological Medicine
- Member of The American Society of Medical Technologists
- Member of The Australian Institute of Medical Scientists
- Member New York Academy of Sciences
External links
- Mall-Net.com - 'Dr. Glen Dettman: 1921 - 1993' (obituary), Oscar Falconi (October 13, 1994)
- Mall-Net.com - 'Vitamin C Nature's Miraculous Healing Missile!' (foreword only, by Linus PaulingLinus PaulingLinus Carl Pauling was an American chemist, biochemist, peace activist, author, and educator. He was one of the most influential chemists in history and ranks among the most important scientists of the 20th century...
; September, 1991)