Public Colloquium in Honour of George Hunter

George Hunter's granddaughter, Janie Brown, will present a seminar entitled "Lessons from my grandfather, George Hunter, second Chair of the Department of Biochemistry, and the future of end-of-life care."

A series of short talks will highlight the university's current strengths, built on the foundation of biochemistry research that Prof. Hunter started to lay a century ago.

His discoveries include nutritional deficits in the poor, particularly in mothers and children, new ways to source and assay vitamins, the biological functions and reactions of metabolites including glutathione, amino acids and nucleotides and the roles of ions including calcium and magnesium in the body.

Publications by G. Hunter and colleagues:

1. The Estimation of Carnosine in Muscle Extract. 1921, Biochem. J.15, 689

2. The Estimation of Carnosine in Muscle Extract. A Critical Study. 1922, Biochem. J., 16, 640

3. Note on Knoop's Test for Histidine. 1922, Biochem. J., 16,637

4. The Diazo-Reaction, with special reference to Urine in Measles. 1922, Brit. Med. J., 751

5. Observations on the Distribution and Variation of Carnosine in Cat Muscle. 1924, Biochem. J., 18, 408

6. The Diazo Reaction in Urine. 1925, Biochem. J., 19, 25

7. Carnosine of Muscle and Iminazole Excretion in the Urine. 1925, Biochem. J., 19, 34

8. Colour Standards for Use in the Determination of Iminazoles. 1925, Biochem. J., 19, 42

9. Uric acid Determinations in Blood. 1925, J. Biol. Chem., 63, 17

10. The Isolation from Blood of a Hitherto unknown Substance and its Bearing on Present Methods for the Estimation of Uric Acid. 1925, J. Biol. Chem., 65, 623

11. Non-Protein Sulfur Compounds of Blood 1. Sympectothion. 1927, J. Biol. Chem. 72, 123

12. Non-Protein Sulfur Compounds of Blood 2. Glutathione. 1927, J. Biol. Chem. 72, 133

13. Glutathione. A Critical Study. 1927, J. Biol. Chem. 72, 147

14. On the Presence of Cystine in Liver. 1927, J. Biol. Chem. 72, 167

15. The Colorimetric Estimation of Cystine and Glutathione. 1927, J. Biol. Chem. 72, 177

16. On the Diazo Reaction in Uraemic Serum and in Normal Urine. 1927, Can. Med. Ass. J. 17, 1448

17. A new Test for Ergothioneine upon which is based a Method for its estimation in simple solution and in Blood-Filtrates. 1928, Biochem. J. 22 44

18. A Diazo-Method for detecting Bilirubin in urine. 1930, Can. Med. Ass. J. 23, 823

19. On the determination of Bilirubin by the Diazo-reagents. 1930, Brit. J. Exper. Path. 11, 407.

20. On the two types of Bilirubin Diazo-Reaction in serum, with a hypothesis on the nature of the Bilirubin in the serum from haemolytic Jaundice. 1930, Brit. J. Exper. Path. 11, 415.

21. Colour reactions of Thiolglyoxalines (Thioliminazoles) with sodium Diazobenzene-p-Sulphonate. 1930, J. Chem. Soc. 302, 2343.

22. The identification of Taurine isolated from Ox adrenal gland. 1935, Can. Chem. Metallurgy, 19, 158

23. A test for Thymine, with observations on the Keto-Enolic type of diazo test. 1936, Biochem. J., 30, 745

24. A new cleavage product of Guanine. 1936, Nature, 137, 405

25. On the hydrolysis of Guanine. 1936, Biochem. J., 30, 1183

26. A new Guanine Hydrolytic Product (4-(or 5-) Guanidino glyoxaline) and its Hydrolytic Product (4-(or 5-1 Carbamidoglyoxaline). 1936, Biochem. J., 30, 1189

27. Note on the preparation of Purines and Pyrimidines from Nucleic acid. 1937, Biochem. J. 31,486

28. Synthesis of 4(or 5-) Carbamidoglyoxaline. 1937, Biochem. J. 31,488

29. The adrenal cortical hormone: A method of assay and of preparation. 1937, Can. Med. Assoc. 1. 37,368

30. On the death of Sir Frederick Banting, April 1941, Can. Med. Assoc.

31. A Dietary survey in Edmonton. 1941, Can. Pub. Health J., 32,259.

32. Aglast water bath. 1941, J. Chem. Educ., 18, 299

33. Refrigerating Condensor: Application in Vacuum Distillation Assembly. 1941.Can. Chem. Process Industries, 25.447

34. On 4-(or 5-) Aminoglyoxaline (Iminazole). 1941, Can. J. of Res., 19, 296-304

35. On a new indigoid formed from the Glyoxaline (Iminazole) Nucleus. 1941, Can. J. Res., 19, 305

36. On the determination of urinary glyoxalines (imanazoles). 1941, Can. J. Res., 19, 310

37. Studies on surface taint butter. 1942, Scientific Agriculture, 22, 347

38. Note on rose hips and evergreens as sources of Vitamin C. 1943, Can. Med. Assoc. J. 48, 30

39. On sources of Vitamin C. 1. Rose Hips. 1943, Can. J. Res. 21, 363

40. On sources of Vitamin C. II. Alberta Native fruits. 1944, Can. J. Res., 22, 33

41. On sources of Vitamin C from native fruit preparation. 1944, J. Can. Dietetic Assoc., 6, 55

42. Bio-assay of Vitamin C in rose hips. 1945, Can. J. Res., 23, 1

43. Approximate nutrient composition of dried rose hips. 1945, Can. J. Res., 23, 5

44. On the specificity of dye titration for ascorbic acid. 1946, Can. J. Res., 24, 37

45. Isolation of ascorbic acid from rose hips. 1946, Can. J. Res, 24, 46

46. The use of rose hip purees in cooking. 1946, J. Can. Dietetic Assoc., 8, 33

47. On staining for Vitamin C in tissues. 1946, Can. J. Res., 24, 182

48. The Assay of new rich natural sources of Ascorbic Acid. 1947, Science, 105, 70

49. Assessment of Hospital diets. 1948, Can. J. Res, 26, 347

50. Assessment of diets: Analysis versus computation from food tables. 1948, Can. J. Res., 26, 367

51. On Ergothioneine: Its preparation from Blood and Ergot. 1949, Can. J. Res. 27, 226

52. The determination of Ergothioneine in simple solution and in blood. 1949, Can. J. Res. 27, 230

53. Note on the Ergothioneine content of Egot from different host plants. 1949, Can. J. Res.27, 240

54. On Ergothioneine in Blood and Diazo Reacting Substances in Maize. 1951, Biochem. J., 48,265

55. Bromide Determination in Body Fluids. 1953, Biochem. J., 34, 42

56. On the Bromide Test of Permeability of the Barrier between Blood and Cerebrospinal Fluid - An Assessment. 1954, Biochem. J. 56, 588

57. Colorimetric Estimation of Polyvinylpyrrolidone by lodine. 1953, The Lancet, 197

58. The Blood-C.S.F. Barrier to Bromide in Diagnosis of Tuberculous Meningitis. 1954, The Lancet, 700

59. The Micro-determination of Bromide in Presence of Chloride. 1954, The Analyst, 79, 467

60. Estimation of Isonicotinic acid Hydrazide in Blood Serum and Cerebrospinal Fluid. 1955, British Medical J., 585

61. Microdetermination of Bromide in Body Fluids. 1955, Biochem. J., 60, 261

62. The Blood-Cerebrospinal Fluid Barrier in Tuberculous Meningitis and Allied Conditions. 1955, J. Neurol., Neurosurg. & Psychiatry, 18,237

63. Deproteinization of Blood. 1956, Biochem. J., 62, 28

64. Microdetermination of Magnesium in Serum with a New Titration Absorptiometer. 1956, Biochem. J., 62, 29

65. The Intrathecal Tuberculin Reaction in the Rabbit. 1957, Brit. J. Exper. Path. 38, 164

66. A Method for Deproteinization of Blood and Other Body Fluids. 1957, J. Clin. Path. 10, 161

67. The Micro-determination of Magnesium in Presence of Known Amounts of Calcium. 1958, The Analyst, 83,93

68. Calcium and Magnesium Content of Normal Human Blood Serum. 1958, Nature, 182,263

69. Micro-determination of Calcium and Magnesium in Blood Serum and Cerebrospinal Fluid. 1959, The Analyst, 84, 24

70. Micro Method for the Determination of Calcium and Magnesium in General Biological Material. 1960, The Analyst, 85, 12.1

71. Calcium and Magnesium in Human Cerebrospinal Fluid. 1960, Nature, 186, 161

72. Intrathecal Tuberculin in Disseminated Sclerosis: The Immunological Aspects. 1961, J. Neurol. Neurosurg, & Psychiatry, 24, 101

73. The Microdetermination of Calcium by the use of Amberlite IRC-50 Resin and Glyoxal Bis (2-hydroxyanil). 1972, The Analyst, 97, 233-237

Publications about G. Hunter:

74. L. Freeman, Dr. Hunter's Dismissal, Calgary Herald, 8 July 1949

75. Wrong Lecture, TIME, 8 July 1949

76. Academic Freedom Again, Saturday Night,19 July 1949: l, 5

77. L. Freeman. Dr. Hunter's Dismissal, The Canadian Forum, 29 Oct. 1949: 147, 150-l.

78. M. Horn. Academic Freedom and the Dismissal of George Hunter,1989, Dal. Rev. 69, 3: 415

79. M. Horn. Unionization and the canadian university: Historical and personal observations, 1994, Symposium, 25, 39–48

80. M. Horn. Academic Freedom: A History, 1999, University of Toronto Press

81. M. Horn. Tenure and the Canadian Professoriate, 1999, J. Can. Stud. 34, 3

82. M. Horn. Canadian Universities, Academic Freedom, Labour, and the Left. 2000, Labour/Le Travailleur, 46, 439–468

83. H. Letts. Profiles and Perspectives from Alberta’s Medical History –Early History of Pathology/Laboratory Medicine at the UofA, 2010

84. M. Horn. Tenure and academic freedom in Canada, 2015, Ethics Sci. Environ. Polit. 15:23-37

85. S. Carter. Professor George Hunter’s Dismissal From the University of Alberta, 1949: A Farewell Lecture on Peace Meant Farewell to His Job, 2022, Canadian Historical Association. 16

86. C.J. Thompson & S. Carter. Where Home Once Was: One Hundred and Eleven Years of Ring House 2 at the University of Alberta. 2025, Manitoba Historical Society, 17