Publish or perish: Dr Victor Webster and cardiazol treatment in Western Australia,1937–1938

Abstract

Objective:

To examine the role of Dr Victor Henry Webster (1905–1980) in the introduction of cardiazol therapy to Western Australia in November 1937.

Method:

A range of primary and secondary sources were consulted.

Results:

Webster experimented with cardiazol treatment at Heathcote Reception Home, and published his findings in April 1938, at the same time as Ellery and Lear, but was not able to publish his results in a nationally-recognised journal. As a result, his contribution to early cardiazol treatment in Australia has been largely forgotten.

Conclusions:

Webster made a genuine contribution to the introduction of cardiazol treatment in Australia, and his story illustrates the need to publish early findings of new physical therapies.