Beryl Audrey Pickering Splatt, (1902-1982) was an Australian biochemist. She was born in 1902 in

Perth Perth () is the list of Australian capital cities, capital city of Western Australia. It is the list of cities in Australia by population, fourth-most-populous city in Australia, with a population of over 2.3 million within Greater Perth . The ...

, Australia. Her parents, Maud Rebecca Pickering from Victoria and William James Splatt from Perth, had married in July 1898 in Perth. Perhaps her interest in science was imparted by her father, a partner in the Electrical Engineers and Contractors, Splatt. Wall, and Co. In any event, Splatt graduated with an MSc from the

University of Melbourne The University of Melbourne (colloquially known as Melbourne University) is a public university, public research university located in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1853, it is Australia's second oldest university and the oldest in the state ...

and was a member of the Victorian Women Graduates Association. Following postgraduate work at

Middlesex Hospital Middlesex Hospital was a teaching hospital located in the Fitzrovia area of London, England. First opened as the Middlesex Infirmary in 1745 on Windmill Street, it was moved in 1757 to Mortimer Street where it remained until it was finally clos ...

, London, which she undertook on a Carnegie Grant, Beryl Splatt returned to Melbourne. She worked as a biochemist and metabolist at

Royal Melbourne Hospital The Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH), located in Parkville, Victoria, an inner suburb of Melbourne, is one of Australia's leading public hospitals. It is a major teaching hospital for tertiary health care with a reputation in clinical research. Th ...

from 1923 to 1964 and also as a clinical biochemistry demonstrator at the University of Melbourne (1940 - 1961). During this time she was also a committee member of the

Red Cross The organized International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is a Humanitarianism, humanitarian movement with approximately 16million volunteering, volunteers, members, and staff worldwide. It was founded to protect human life and health, to ...

Blood Transfusion Service and a member of the Royal Melbourne Clinical School. Splatt was the inaugural President of the Association of Hospital Scientists of Victoria. She died in

St Kilda, Victoria St Kilda is an inner seaside suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, southeast of the Melbourne central business district, located within the City of Port Phillip Local government areas of Victoria, local government area. St Kilda recorded a ...

, Australia in 1982.

Published works

* Beryl Splatt, 'The Liver Glycogen After Partial Pancreatectomy in the Guinea Pig', ''Australian Journal of Experimental Biology and Medical Science'' (1927) 4, 213–219. * NH Fairley and B Splatt, 'I. Venom Yields in Australian Poisonous Snakes', ''

Medical Journal of Australia The ''Medical Journal of Australia'' (MJA) is a peer-reviewed medical journal published 22 times a year. It is the official journal of the Australian Medical Association, published by Wiley (publisher), Wiley on behalf of the Australasian Medical ...

'', (1929), 1:11, 336-348. * PL Basely, Rachel Jokorowicz and Beryl Splatt, 'Dose Rates and Blood Concentrations of Sulphanilamide in Horses', ''The

Australian Veterinary Journal Australian(s) may refer to: Australia * Australia, a country * Australians, citizens of the Commonwealth of Australia ** European Australians ** Anglo-Celtic Australians, Australians descended principally from British colonists ** Aboriginal Aus ...

'', (1939), 15, 199-205.

Honours, decorations, awards and distinctions

On 1 January 1965, Splatt was appointed a Member of the

Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

(OBE - Civil) in recognition of her work in the Biochemistry Department of Melbourne Hospital.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Splatt, Beryl Australian biochemists Australian women chemists 1902 births 1982 deaths Australian Members of the Order of the British Empire