Contents
Alice Ball
Developing an injectable chaulmoogra-oil treatment for Hansen’s disease.
Benzoylation research · Kava thesis
- Born
- 24 July 1892
- Birthplace
- Seattle, United States
- Died
- 31 December 1916
More people
Alice Ball
Alice Ball was an American chemist whose work in Hawaiʻi improved a difficult treatment before her death at just 24.
Early life
Seattle
Grew up in a family with strong connections to photography.
Washington
Studied pharmaceutical chemistry and pharmacy at the University of Washington.
Career
- 1914
Hawaiʻi
Moved to the College of Hawaiʻi for graduate study.
- 1915
Chemistry instructor
Completed her master’s degree and joined the teaching staff.
- 1915–1916
Medical chemistry
Worked with Harry Hollmann on an injectable treatment.
Contributions
Benzoylation research
Co-authored a chemistry paper while a student.
Kava thesis
Studied chemical constituents of the kava plant.
Ball Method
Adapted chaulmoogra oil into a form suitable for injection.
Beyond the lab
Lost credit
Her work was initially published without proper acknowledgement after her death.
Recognition
Hawaiʻi later honoured her with Alice Augusta Ball Day.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Institutional biography and research ↗Photo: Unknown author Unknown author. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
