BACHELOR OF MEDICINE – Alfred Austin Brown
Dr Alfred Austin Brown, physician and superintendent of Victoria’s first specialised public hospital for the treatment of tuberculosis, Greenvale Sanatorium.
24 Mar 1904
The Australian navies who have gone through our schools to the top of the professional tree in any branch of scientific training are not so numerous in Victoria as to justify anybody in making a noise about the “‘greatness of the Melbourne University.”
They are most prolific in the output of lawyers – the least productive class in the community – the other professions such as medicos, engineers’ and other scientists, go else where for their diplomas.
It is not our present purpose to investigate the character and effect of University education in Melbourne.
Dr. A. A Brown is an exception to the rule.
He is an Australian, who; was born at Taradale, in Victoria, on the “8th of August, 1863—41-years, ago, and whilst employed in the Telegraph Department in this State he succeeded in winning the degrees of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery at the Melbourne. University.
That is an achievement that any Australian may well be proud of.
He entered the Telegraph Department when he was 16 years of age, and devoted himself closely to the study of electricity and mathematics, and having matriculated, attended the science lectures at the University.
It was not an easy task to attend to his office duties and make progress with his studies at the University at the same time – but he was not made of the material that is easily turned aside from a deliberate purpose, and he persevered doggedly, and ultimately reaped the reward of his industry and devotion.
The story of Sir John Quick’s progress from,the every-day work of a miner at Bendgio to the highest legal degree at the disposal of Melbourne’ University, is on all fours with the success achieved by Dr. A.A Brown.
In the year 1894 Dr. Brown obtained his diploma, and was in the following year appointed by Mr. Turner?, who was then Minister of Agriculture to the position of scientific officer for research, and examination in connection foods for export.
All meat foods leaving Victoria have to pass the inspection of Dr. Brown, or the officers attached to his staff.
Since his appointment Dr. Brown has undertaken innumerable experience for the benefit of the industries concerned.
His labours labours largely been in connection with the freezing and thawing of meat, and he has been successful in discovering the cause of “bone taint,” and how it can be avoided.
Much of his time has also been devoted to improving methods of preserving certain foods on a bacteriological basis; separating and identifying the organisms that promote “fishiness” in butter and “pinholy” condition in cheese; studying parasitic diseases in animals and birds, foul brood in bees, and isolating the germ of avian diphtheria and roup; experimenting with micro-parasites for the purpose of spreading diseases amongst fowl tick (Arhas Americanus), the existence of which in Victoria he was the first to announce.
In investigating outbreaks of disease amongst animals, he has proved such complaints as “cripples” in cattle to be due to food conditions generally.
Dr. Brown was also the first to point out in Victoria the cause of multiple abscesses in sheep as well as being the first to report the prevalence of symptomatic anthrax (Black Ieg) and swine plague.
Another direction in which he has rendered valuable service to the State is in experimenting with the conveyance of soft fruits in fresh condition to London.
After elaborate investigations he was able to indicate what the causes of decay are attributable to, and what conditions are essential for carrying such fruit.
At present he is engaged in studying the prevalence of malignant diseases in animals.
Dr. Brown holds a prominent position in the public service’ of Victoria, where he is highly popular.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/145846411
BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATH
BROWN— TALBOT.— On the 3rd January, at St. Matthew’s Presbyterian Church, Stawell.
by the Rev. G. B. Murphy,
B.A.. Alfred Austin Brown, M.B. , B.S.. Fairfield, third son of John Brown, Blyth street. Brunswick, to Lucy, daughter of Edward Talbot, Bright.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/197303732
DEATH
The death of Dr. A, A. Brown, late superintendent of the Greenvale sanatorium for consumptives, is a great loss to the public service of this State, with which he was connected for over “44 years.
He qualified at the Melbourne University for the medical profession while he was engaged in clerical work at the railways, working day and night.
The sanatorium at Greenvale was practically made by him what it is.
All his energies and gifts were devoted to it unsparingly until last May, when he met with a severe motor accident on the Bulla road, which necessitated treatment at Dr. Stirling’s private hospital, and ultimately his resignation at the end of last year.
He died after a linger ing illness, and was privately interred last Thursday week in the Coburg Cemetery.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/269710382
WILLS AND ESTATES
The Equity Trustees Co. Ltd.
Richard Windsor, and James Egan are applying for the grant of probate of the will of Elizabeth Maria Webb, formerly of Thomastown, near Melbourne, but late of 355 Bay street, North Melbourne, widow, to died on January 15.
The assets are sworn at £2973, of which £1750 is realty and £1223 personalty.
The testatrix, after several pecuniary legacies, bequeaths the whole of her estate in trust for her children and grandchildren.
Application Is being made by the Equity Trustees Co. for tho grant of probate of tho will and codicils of Alfred Austin Brown, late of S77 Mount Alexander ‘ road, Essendon, medical practitioner, who died on February 23. (1921)
The assets ore sworn at £2349, of which £1921 Is realty and £428 is personalty.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/242500407
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