Hugh Gordon
Encyclopedia
Hugh McLeod Gordon was a pioneering Australian veterinary
scientist and parasitologist
.
Gordon had a long and distinguished career in veterinary research, becoming a world-renowned expert in the field of veterinary parasitology
. Amongst his most important contributions in that field was the discovery that phenothiazine
was a safe and effective anthelmintic
in sheep and cattle
. This discovery, along with the recognition that this compound could be manufactured locally, saved Australian sheep farmers
millions of dollars.
, Australia to Hugh Hungerford Gordon (1883-1969) of Armidale,; and Frederica Marion Taylor (1885-1962) of "Terrible Vale", Kentucky
. Hugh Hungerford (known as "Bob") was a grazier in the Armidale district of New South Wales, purchasing the property "Elsinore" in 1911.
Gordon spent his early years at Elsinore, attending Armidale High School from 1922 to 1926.
In 1927 Gordon entered the Faculty of Veterinary Science at the University of Sydney
, residing at St. Paul's College. He applied for entry after reading a letter from Professor James Douglas Stewart, Dean
of the Veterinary Science faculty, that appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald on 26 January 1927, asking country students to consider veterinary science as a career.
Gordon graduated with Honours
in 1930 and was awarded the William Cooper & Nephews Prize for Parasitology, and the Baker and Ridley Memorial Prize for Animal Husbandry
. He won University Blues for hockey
in 1928 and 1929.
. They fell in love with Manly
, settling there following marriage and spending their entire lives there. They had four children, Hugh McLeod (born 1938), David Dunvegan (born 1941), Ian Arthur (born 1943) and Anne Godfrey (born 1949).
At the time of his passing, Gordon also had seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren. His eldest grandchild (son of Hugh McLeod), Adam Stewart Gordon (born 1967) graduated from the University of Sydney with an Honours degree in Veterinary Science in 1990 and youngest great grandchild Jack Mcleod Gordon (born 1999) with his older sister Sophie Ellen Gordon(1997).At his graduation, Adam wore the gown and hood that Gordon wore at his graduation in 1930.
to continue postgraduate studies in Veterinary Parasitology. From 1931 to 1933 he worked on parasitic diseases of sheep with Dr (later Sir) Ian Clunies Ross
at the McMaster Laboratory of the CSIRO located on the Camperdown
campus of the University of Sydney.
His earliest research was incorporated in the groundbreaking publication (Clunies-Ross and Gordon) "The Internal Parasites and Parasitic Diseases of Sheep". This research came at a time when Australian woolgrowers were suffering enormous losses due to failure to identify parasites
causing losses, lack of treatment, and limited knowledge of the factors leading to pasture
infection
.
In 1968 he was awarded the Degree of Doctor of Veterinary Science from the University of Sydney for his thesis "Studies on Helminthosis in Sheep".
.
Gordon's major contribution was in laying the foundations of modern epidemiological
thinking in the control of internal parasites of grazing ruminants, and sheep in particular. His understanding of the epidemiology of internal parasitism and parasitic disease
s of sheep allowed him to develop control strategies that minimised reliance on drenching.
The internationally recognised Wormkill program, which was most effective at controlling worms in the New England region of New South Wales in the 1980s, was based on principles developed by Gordon in the 1940s.
In addition to his epidemiological research, Gordon also researched and published extensively on the use of various anthelmintics in sheep. He was responsible for the discovery in the late 1930s of phenothiazine, a safe and effective anthelmintic. His research showed that this compound could effectively control intestinal parasites in sheep and cattle. This discovery, and local production of the required chemicals, resulted in a massive cut in the economic losses suffered by farmers due to intestinal parasitism. Phenothiazine was the mainstay of internal parasite control in sheep in Australia until the 1960s, when broad-spectrum anthelmintics became available.
Gordon also played a major role in the introduction of thiabendazole
(a member of the benzimidazole
family) as an anthelmintic for sheep in the early 1960s. In September 1961 in the journal Nature
, he reported on his laboratory and field trials that demonstrated this compound exhibited a very high degree of anthelmintic activity against most of the major internal parasites of sheep.
Whilst the use of thiabendazole has waned, newer generation benzimidazole compounds such as albendazole
and fenbendazole
are to this day used widely in people and domestic animals.
In recognition of his services to the Australian Veterinary Association, he was elected a Fellow
. His Fellowship citation in 1959 stated that "through his work and writings, through the many students who have sat at his feet and by his willingness at all times to extend help and friendship to his colleagues, Mr. Gordon has attained a worldwide reputation both as a parasitologist and for his personal qualities".
, he continued to devote his time to these pursuits following his official retirement from the CSIRO in 1974. He continued to make his daily trek from Manly, taking the Manly Ferry
then the 440 bus to the Camperdown campus of the University of Sydney.
He divided his time between the Veterinary Science faculty, where he was a demonstrator in parasitology practical classes, and the Max Henry Memorial Library, where he was Honorary Librarian. He continued to devour scientific journal articles on parasitology, keeping abreast of new developments and discoveries. In 1995 the Max Henry Memorial Library was disbanded much to Hugh's dismay. This marked the end of his time at the University of Sydney, 21 years after his official retirement and 64 years after he started at the McMaster Laboratory.
In "Hugh McLeod Gordon an appreciation on his 80th birthday", Alan D. Donald of the CSIRO wrote: "He has a truly enquiring mind, a constant capacity for lateral thinking, and an encyclopaedic knowledge of many things but of manners parasitological above all. At the same time, he has a gentle, self-effacing manner which has always made him instantly approachable by the most junior of his colleagues or students, and he has never been too busy to answer their requests for help or advice. These attributes, together with his origins, have also made him a highly effective communicator with the farming community who hold him in very high regard. His highly developed sense of humour, enormous mental storehouse of jokes, not all of them suitable for all occasions, and his skills as a raconteur, are widely known around the world."
Hugh McLeod Gordon died in Manly Hospital after a short illness on 23 April 2002.
in 1936. He had in excess of 100 publications appear in various scientific journals, mostly the Australian Veterinary Journal.
Veterinary medicine
Veterinary Medicine is the branch of science that deals with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease, disorder and injury in non-human animals...
scientist and parasitologist
Parasitology
Parasitology is the study of parasites, their hosts, and the relationship between them. As a biological discipline, the scope of parasitology is not determined by the organism or environment in question, but by their way of life...
.
Gordon had a long and distinguished career in veterinary research, becoming a world-renowned expert in the field of veterinary parasitology
Veterinary parasitology
Veterinary parasitology is the study of animal parasites, especially relationships between parasites and animal hosts. Parasites of domestic animals, , as well as wildlife animals are considered...
. Amongst his most important contributions in that field was the discovery that phenothiazine
Phenothiazine
Phenothiazine is an organic compound that occurs in various antipsychotic and antihistaminic drugs. It has the formula S2NH. This yellow tricyclic compound is soluble in acetic acid, benzene, and ether. The compound is related to the thiazine-class of heterocyclic compounds...
was a safe and effective anthelmintic
Anthelmintic
Anthelmintics or antihelminthics are drugs that expel parasitic worms from the body, by either stunning or killing them. They may also be called vermifuges or vermicides .-Pharmaceutical classes:...
in sheep and cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
. This discovery, along with the recognition that this compound could be manufactured locally, saved Australian sheep farmers
Sheep husbandry
Sheep husbandry is a subcategory of animal husbandry specifically dealing with the raising and breeding of domestic sheep. Sheep farming is primarily based on raising lambs for meat, or raising sheep for wool. Sheep may also be raised for milk or to sell to other farmers.-Shelter and...
millions of dollars.
Early life
Hugh Gordon was born in Armidale, New South WalesArmidale, New South Wales
Armidale is a city in the Northern Tablelands, New South Wales, Australia. Armidale Dumaresq Shire had a population of 19,485 people according to the 2006 census. It is the administrative centre for the Northern Tablelands region...
, Australia to Hugh Hungerford Gordon (1883-1969) of Armidale,; and Frederica Marion Taylor (1885-1962) of "Terrible Vale", Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. Hugh Hungerford (known as "Bob") was a grazier in the Armidale district of New South Wales, purchasing the property "Elsinore" in 1911.
Gordon spent his early years at Elsinore, attending Armidale High School from 1922 to 1926.
In 1927 Gordon entered the Faculty of Veterinary Science at the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
, residing at St. Paul's College. He applied for entry after reading a letter from Professor James Douglas Stewart, Dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
of the Veterinary Science faculty, that appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald on 26 January 1927, asking country students to consider veterinary science as a career.
Gordon graduated with Honours
Honors student
An honors student is a person recognized for achieving high grades or high marks in their course work.Honors students may refer to# Students recognized for their academic achievement on lists published periodically throughout the school year, known as honor rolls, varying from school to school, and...
in 1930 and was awarded the William Cooper & Nephews Prize for Parasitology, and the Baker and Ridley Memorial Prize for Animal Husbandry
Animal husbandry
Animal husbandry is the agricultural practice of breeding and raising livestock.- History :Animal husbandry has been practiced for thousands of years, since the first domestication of animals....
. He won University Blues for hockey
Hockey
Hockey is a family of sports in which two teams play against each other by trying to maneuver a ball or a puck into the opponent's goal using a hockey stick.-Etymology:...
in 1928 and 1929.
Marriage and children
Gordon married, in 1937, Rita Godfrey Killingley (1908-1996) of BalmainBalmain, New South Wales
Balmain is a suburb in the inner-west of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Balmain is located slightly west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the Municipality of Leichhardt....
. They fell in love with Manly
Manly, New South Wales
Manly is a suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Manly is located 17 kilometres north-east of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre of the local government area of Manly Council, in the Northern Beaches region.-History:Manly was named...
, settling there following marriage and spending their entire lives there. They had four children, Hugh McLeod (born 1938), David Dunvegan (born 1941), Ian Arthur (born 1943) and Anne Godfrey (born 1949).
At the time of his passing, Gordon also had seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren. His eldest grandchild (son of Hugh McLeod), Adam Stewart Gordon (born 1967) graduated from the University of Sydney with an Honours degree in Veterinary Science in 1990 and youngest great grandchild Jack Mcleod Gordon (born 1999) with his older sister Sophie Ellen Gordon(1997).At his graduation, Adam wore the gown and hood that Gordon wore at his graduation in 1930.
Early career
Following graduation, Gordon was granted a Walter and Eliza Hall FellowshipScholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
to continue postgraduate studies in Veterinary Parasitology. From 1931 to 1933 he worked on parasitic diseases of sheep with Dr (later Sir) Ian Clunies Ross
Ian Clunies Ross
Sir Ian Clunies Ross, CMG is described as the 'architect' of Australia's scientific boom, for his stewardship of Australia's scientific organisation the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation - CSIRO.-Family:...
at the McMaster Laboratory of the CSIRO located on the Camperdown
Camperdown, New South Wales
Camperdown is an inner-city suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Camperdown is located 4 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district and is part of the Inner West region...
campus of the University of Sydney.
His earliest research was incorporated in the groundbreaking publication (Clunies-Ross and Gordon) "The Internal Parasites and Parasitic Diseases of Sheep". This research came at a time when Australian woolgrowers were suffering enormous losses due to failure to identify parasites
Parasitism
Parasitism is a type of symbiotic relationship between organisms of different species where one organism, the parasite, benefits at the expense of the other, the host. Traditionally parasite referred to organisms with lifestages that needed more than one host . These are now called macroparasites...
causing losses, lack of treatment, and limited knowledge of the factors leading to pasture
Pasture
Pasture is land used for grazing. Pasture lands in the narrow sense are enclosed tracts of farmland, grazed by domesticated livestock, such as horses, cattle, sheep or swine. The vegetation of tended pasture, forage, consists mainly of grasses, with an interspersion of legumes and other forbs...
infection
Infection
An infection is the colonization of a host organism by parasite species. Infecting parasites seek to use the host's resources to reproduce, often resulting in disease...
.
University of Sydney
Gordon was a part time lecturer in Veterinary Parasitology at the University of Sydney from 1937 until 1970. During this time he was responsible for teaching more than 1000 future veterinarians. Following his retirement from the CSIRO in 1974, he resumed teaching at the University of Sydney as a part-time demonstrator in Veterinary Parasitology. He continued in this role until 1996.In 1968 he was awarded the Degree of Doctor of Veterinary Science from the University of Sydney for his thesis "Studies on Helminthosis in Sheep".
McMaster Laboratory, CSIRO
Gordon was appointed to the staff of the McMaster Laboratory in 1934, and remained there until his retirement in 1974. Gordon's time at the McMaster laboratory was marked by a prolific output of substantial papers, encompassing laboratory research and results from numerous field studiesField experiment
A field experiment applies the scientific method to experimentally examine an intervention in the real world rather than in the laboratory...
.
Gordon's major contribution was in laying the foundations of modern epidemiological
Epidemiology
Epidemiology is the study of health-event, health-characteristic, or health-determinant patterns in a population. It is the cornerstone method of public health research, and helps inform policy decisions and evidence-based medicine by identifying risk factors for disease and targets for preventive...
thinking in the control of internal parasites of grazing ruminants, and sheep in particular. His understanding of the epidemiology of internal parasitism and parasitic disease
Disease
A disease is an abnormal condition affecting the body of an organism. It is often construed to be a medical condition associated with specific symptoms and signs. It may be caused by external factors, such as infectious disease, or it may be caused by internal dysfunctions, such as autoimmune...
s of sheep allowed him to develop control strategies that minimised reliance on drenching.
The internationally recognised Wormkill program, which was most effective at controlling worms in the New England region of New South Wales in the 1980s, was based on principles developed by Gordon in the 1940s.
In addition to his epidemiological research, Gordon also researched and published extensively on the use of various anthelmintics in sheep. He was responsible for the discovery in the late 1930s of phenothiazine, a safe and effective anthelmintic. His research showed that this compound could effectively control intestinal parasites in sheep and cattle. This discovery, and local production of the required chemicals, resulted in a massive cut in the economic losses suffered by farmers due to intestinal parasitism. Phenothiazine was the mainstay of internal parasite control in sheep in Australia until the 1960s, when broad-spectrum anthelmintics became available.
Gordon also played a major role in the introduction of thiabendazole
Thiabendazole
Tiabendazole is a fungicide and parasiticide.-Fungicide:...
(a member of the benzimidazole
Benzimidazole
Benzimidazole is a heterocyclic aromatic organic compound. This bicyclic compound consists of the fusion of benzene and imidazole. The most prominent benzimidazole compound in nature is N-ribosyl-dimethylbenzimidazole, which serves as an axial ligand for cobalt in vitamin B12. Benzimidazole, in...
family) as an anthelmintic for sheep in the early 1960s. In September 1961 in the journal Nature
Nature (journal)
Nature, first published on 4 November 1869, is ranked the world's most cited interdisciplinary scientific journal by the Science Edition of the 2010 Journal Citation Reports...
, he reported on his laboratory and field trials that demonstrated this compound exhibited a very high degree of anthelmintic activity against most of the major internal parasites of sheep.
Whilst the use of thiabendazole has waned, newer generation benzimidazole compounds such as albendazole
Albendazole
Albendazole, marketed as Albenza, Eskazole, Zentel and Andazol, is a member of the benzimidazole compounds used as a drug indicated for the treatment of a variety of worm infestations. Although this use is widespread in the United States, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved...
and fenbendazole
Fenbendazole
Fenbendazole is a broad spectrum benzimidazole anthelmintic used against gastrointestinal parasites including roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, the taenia species of tapeworms, pinworms, aelurostrongylus, paragonimiasis, strongyles and strongyloides and can be administered to sheep, cattle,...
are to this day used widely in people and domestic animals.
Australian Veterinary Association
Hugh Gordon actively served the veterinary profession in many other roles. He was active in the affairs of the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) at state and national level. He served the NSW division as secretary from 1933 to 1944 and president in 1941 and 1942. He was elected National President of the AVA in 1951. He also served as Honorary Librarian of the AVA's Max Henry Memorial Library from 1932 until 1990.In recognition of his services to the Australian Veterinary Association, he was elected a Fellow
Fellow
A fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...
. His Fellowship citation in 1959 stated that "through his work and writings, through the many students who have sat at his feet and by his willingness at all times to extend help and friendship to his colleagues, Mr. Gordon has attained a worldwide reputation both as a parasitologist and for his personal qualities".
Retirement
Such was Gordon's dedication to veterinary science and parasitologyParasitology
Parasitology is the study of parasites, their hosts, and the relationship between them. As a biological discipline, the scope of parasitology is not determined by the organism or environment in question, but by their way of life...
, he continued to devote his time to these pursuits following his official retirement from the CSIRO in 1974. He continued to make his daily trek from Manly, taking the Manly Ferry
Manly ferry services, Sydney
Manly ferry services connect the suburb of Manly, New South Wales with Circular Quay by commuter ferry. The services are provided by Sydney Ferries Corporation, an agency of the Government of New South Wales. The route is coloured light blue on the current Sydney Ferries network map. Vessels in the...
then the 440 bus to the Camperdown campus of the University of Sydney.
He divided his time between the Veterinary Science faculty, where he was a demonstrator in parasitology practical classes, and the Max Henry Memorial Library, where he was Honorary Librarian. He continued to devour scientific journal articles on parasitology, keeping abreast of new developments and discoveries. In 1995 the Max Henry Memorial Library was disbanded much to Hugh's dismay. This marked the end of his time at the University of Sydney, 21 years after his official retirement and 64 years after he started at the McMaster Laboratory.
In "Hugh McLeod Gordon an appreciation on his 80th birthday", Alan D. Donald of the CSIRO wrote: "He has a truly enquiring mind, a constant capacity for lateral thinking, and an encyclopaedic knowledge of many things but of manners parasitological above all. At the same time, he has a gentle, self-effacing manner which has always made him instantly approachable by the most junior of his colleagues or students, and he has never been too busy to answer their requests for help or advice. These attributes, together with his origins, have also made him a highly effective communicator with the farming community who hold him in very high regard. His highly developed sense of humour, enormous mental storehouse of jokes, not all of them suitable for all occasions, and his skills as a raconteur, are widely known around the world."
Hugh McLeod Gordon died in Manly Hospital after a short illness on 23 April 2002.
Honours
Throughout his career, Hugh Gordon was active in and honoured by many professional associations, both in Australia and overseas. These included:- Australian Society for Parasitology; Foundation Member, President (1968-1969), elected FellowFellowA fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...
1972. - World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology; Foundation Member, former member of the Executive Board, First Vice-President, elected Honorary Member 1981.
- Helminthological Society of Washington; Elected Honorary Member 1981.
- Australian Veterinary Association; elected Fellow 1959, awarded Gilruth Prize in 1965.
- Australian College of Veterinary Scientists; Foundation Fellow and President 1976-1977.
- Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science; President Section L (Veterinary Science), 1949.
- The Payne Exhibition, awarded for the "most important contribution to Veterinary Science during the preceding five years", 1958.
- Presented with the Order of the Golden Fleece by the California Wool Growers Association, 1970.
- Australian Sheep Veterinary Society established the Hugh Gordon Australian Sheep Veterinary Society ScholarshipScholarshipA scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
in his honour, first awarded 1998. - University of Sydney inaugural Alumni Award for Achievement in Community Service, 1992. This award was created to honor graduates for excellence in their chosen field and outstanding community contributions.
- Appointed Member of the Order of AustraliaOrder of AustraliaThe Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
for Services to Veterinary Science, 1986.
Publications
Hugh Gordon co-authored the definitive text "The Internal Parasites and Parasitic Diseases of Sheep" with Dr Ian Clunies RossIan Clunies Ross
Sir Ian Clunies Ross, CMG is described as the 'architect' of Australia's scientific boom, for his stewardship of Australia's scientific organisation the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation - CSIRO.-Family:...
in 1936. He had in excess of 100 publications appear in various scientific journals, mostly the Australian Veterinary Journal.
External links
- Max Henry Memorial Library
- CSIRO
- Australian Veterinary Association
- University of Sydney Faculty of Veterinary Science History
- The Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science
- Australian College of Veterinary Scientists
- Australian Society for Parasitology
- World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology
- The Helminthological Society of Washington
- The California Wool Growers Association
- The Gordons of Manar
- Gordon Family Tree