The 21 August 1937 issue of the Medical Journal of Australia contained two articles on a hitherto unknown disease affecting abattoir workers and farmers — Q fever (with the “Q” standing for query).The first of these was by Edward Holbrook Derrick, Director of the Laboratory of Microbiology and Pathology, Queensland Health Department, Brisbane, and comprised his meticulous clinical descriptions and subsequent experiments to isolate the causative organism.1 During his research, Derrick sought the help of Frank Macfarlane Burnet, and the second article by Burnet and Mavis Freeman from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research in Melbourne described their identification of the causative agent.2
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- 1. Derrick EH. “Q” fever, a new fever entity: clinical features, diagnosis and laboratory investigation. Med J Aust 1937; 2: 281-299.
- 2. Burnet FM, Freeman M. Experimental studies on the virus of “Q” fever. Med J Aust 1937; 2: 299-305.
- 3. McCarthy G, Manhal O, O’Sullivan L, et al. A guide to the records of Frank Macfarlane Burnet. Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre. Australian Science Archives Project on ASAPWeb, 1995. http://www.austehc.unimelb.edu.au/guides/burn/burn.htm (accessed Sep 2008).
- 4. McDade JE. Historical aspects of Q fever. In: Marrie TJ, editor. Q fever. Vol 1. The disease. Boca Raton, Fla: CRC Press, 1990: 5-21.
- 5. Mackerras IM. Australian Academy of Science. Biographical memoirs of deceased fellows. Edward Holbrook Derrick 18981976. http://www.asap.unimelb.edu.au/bsparcs/aasmemoirs/derrick.htm#mac (accessed Sep 2008).
- 6. Monnerot-Dumaine M. [Q fever should be called Derrick–Burnet fever] [French]. Bull Soc Pathol Exot Filiales 1951; 44 (11-12): 734-736.
The illustrations are published with the approval of the Director of the Queensland Institute of Medical Research. The coloured drawing of the organism seen by Burnet is reproduced from the original article with the permission of the Editor of the MJA. Professor Barrie Marmion, Adelaide, assisted with the preparation of the manuscript.
None identified.