Postcard: signature of Richard Joseph Bull (1874-1927)

Date
1920
Description
Postcard of "The Monument", London, signed by R.J. Bull. One of a collection of scenic cards signed by R.J. Bull, predominantly London, but also Coblenz, Dresden and Köln (Cologne). May have been cities with institutes he visited on a trip to London and Europe.

The Argus (Melbourne) 11 May 1927, p.19.
DEATH OF DR. R. J. BULL ( 1874-1927) NOTED BACTERIOLOGIST.
Service to Community.
Regret will be felt at the new of the death of Dr. Richard Joseph Bull, which occurred in a private hospital after a short illness on Monday night. As lecturer in
bacteriology and director of the bacterio-logical laboatory at the University he had performed services of the utmost value both to the University and to the comunity. Dr. Bull was aged 53 years, and though it was known that his health had been poor, his death was unexpected. He collapsed while engaged in his duties at the University on Monday, and was at once removed to hospital.
Born in Bendigo in 1874, Dr. Bull had a brilliant scholastic career. While attending a State school he won a Government scholarship, which took him to the late Mr. Pearce's grammar school. After three years he was dux of the school and at the age of 16 years he won an exhibition giving entrance to the Melbourne University. While at the University he obtained prizes and honours each year, including the Sir Baldwin Spencer prize. He took the degrees of bachelor of surgery and bachelor of medicine in 1896, and being one of the six highest on the lest he became entitled to a year's residence at the Melbourne Hospital. After a period as resident surgeon at the hospital he was appointed to the University under Dr. Thomas Cherry in the department of bacteriology. In 1901he obtained the degree of doctor of medicine, and in 1903-4 he was resident medical tutor at Trinity College. When Dr. Bull had been at the University for 12 months an outbreak of bubonic plague occurred, and he took charge of the plague quarantine station. After a visit to Great Britain, where he pursued his studies, he succeeded Dr. Cherry, who had been appointed professor of agriculture, in the position of lecturer in bacteriology and director of the bacteriological laboratory. During the war he made the typhoid vaccine, which was used for the Victorian troops, and working in conjunction with Professor H. A. Woodruff, he produced a serum for use in the meningitis outbreak. In 1920 he made a second visit to Great Britain. Upon his return to Australia the great increase in the work of the department made it necessary for him to spend many hours at night in the laboratory. Last year he again visited Europe, mainly with the object of conducting researches into problems associated with cancer and tuberculosis. While abroad he attended the British Medical Association conference at Nottingham as an Australian delegate. Upon his return to Melbourne last November he was elected president of the Victorian branch of the British Medical Association, a position which be held until his death. The work of Dr. Bull for the bacteriological department was of the greatest value. For 22 years he was the head of this department, and under his guidance it became one of the most practical and most important branches of University research work. His department carne to be used by the Department of Public Health and by private doctors throughout the State. It is now continuously open for the examination of specimens, and the instruction of medical students forms only a fraction of its work. The loss of Dr. Bull to the University will be great. His services as lecturer and bacteriological expert will be remembered with gratitude by all associated with him. A lover of open air life, Dr. Bull was a keen angler, an enthusiastic botanist, geologist, and an expert and scientific gardener. The garden of his home in Surrey Hills contains a particularly fine collection of indigenous and European shrubs and trees in which he took a very great interest. Dr. Bull is survived by a wife and adaughter and a son…
Professor Osborne's Tribute
"As acting dean of the faculty of medicine, and as a colleague of long standing,I should like to pay a tribute to the high qualities of the late Dr. Bull," said Professor Osborne last night. "He was a most indefatigable worker in his department,and, indeed, the public has no idea of the enormous amount of work he carried out. He gave instruction not only in medicine, but also to the students of agriculture, hygiene, domestic science, and other subjects. His colleagues who went to him for help always found him exceed ingly anxious and willing to be of service,and the cheerfulness of his manner will long be a pleasant memory. The University has indeed lost one of its most faithful officers."