Allan Macy Butler
Encyclopedia
Allan Macy Butler was Chief of the Children’s Medical Services at Massachusetts General Hospital
and a professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School
. A pioneer in health services, Butler sought to change the structure of the American ‘fee-for-service
’ system of health care to one based on government-paid medical care for the elderly and low-income people.
Butler was born April 3, 1894, in Yonkers, New York. The son of George Prentice Butler, a stockbroker, he was one of eight children. Butler spent World War I
overseas, serving as an artillery officer in the American Expeditionary Forces. Afterward, he served in Poland as part of the Hoover Commission
. Butler entered Harvard Medical School in 1922. After graduating in 1926, he worked at the Rockefeller Institute. It was there that he developed an interest in fluid and electrolyte
metabolism
. During World War II, he worked on life-raft studies conducted by the Office of Scientific Research and Development
that led to advancements in treating diarrhea
and dehydration
.
In 1929, Butler returned to Harvard as an instructor in Pediatrics
. He attained the title of Professor of Pediatrics in 1944 and served as Chief of Children’s Medical Service and Staff Physician in charge of the Chemical Laboratories at Massachusetts General Hospital. He would remain at these two posts, concurrently, until 1960.
Butler’s advocacy for medical insurance and pre-paid methods of health care embroiled him in the socialized medicine
debate. He would also face a loyalty review by the Civil Service Commission Loyalty Review Board. After his trial he provided support in the form of testimony
and letters for colleagues who were being tried under the Subversive Activities Control Act of 1950.
He was a dedicated opponent of the Vietnam War
and a supporter of abortion rights, nuclear disarmament
, and nonviolent resistance
.
In 1969 Butler received the American Pediatric Society
's highest award, the John Howland Award
.
Massachusetts General Hospital
Massachusetts General Hospital is a teaching hospital and biomedical research facility in the West End neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts...
and a professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School is the graduate medical school of Harvard University. It is located in the Longwood Medical Area of the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts....
. A pioneer in health services, Butler sought to change the structure of the American ‘fee-for-service
Fee-for-service
Fee-for-service is a payment model where services are unbundled and paid for separately. In health care, it gives an incentive for physicians to provide more treatments because payment is dependent on the quantity of care, rather than quality of care...
’ system of health care to one based on government-paid medical care for the elderly and low-income people.
Butler was born April 3, 1894, in Yonkers, New York. The son of George Prentice Butler, a stockbroker, he was one of eight children. Butler spent World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
overseas, serving as an artillery officer in the American Expeditionary Forces. Afterward, he served in Poland as part of the Hoover Commission
Hoover Commission
The Hoover Commission, officially named the Commission on Organization of the Executive Branch of the Government, was a body appointed by President Harry S. Truman in 1947 to recommend administrative changes in the Federal Government of the United States...
. Butler entered Harvard Medical School in 1922. After graduating in 1926, he worked at the Rockefeller Institute. It was there that he developed an interest in fluid and electrolyte
Electrolyte
In chemistry, an electrolyte is any substance containing free ions that make the substance electrically conductive. The most typical electrolyte is an ionic solution, but molten electrolytes and solid electrolytes are also possible....
metabolism
Metabolism
Metabolism is the set of chemical reactions that happen in the cells of living organisms to sustain life. These processes allow organisms to grow and reproduce, maintain their structures, and respond to their environments. Metabolism is usually divided into two categories...
. During World War II, he worked on life-raft studies conducted by the Office of Scientific Research and Development
Office of Scientific Research and Development
The Office of Scientific Research and Development was an agency of the United States federal government created to coordinate scientific research for military purposes during World War II. Arrangements were made for its creation during May 1941, and it was created formally by on June 28, 1941...
that led to advancements in treating diarrhea
Diarrhea
Diarrhea , also spelled diarrhoea, is the condition of having three or more loose or liquid bowel movements per day. It is a common cause of death in developing countries and the second most common cause of infant deaths worldwide. The loss of fluids through diarrhea can cause dehydration and...
and dehydration
Dehydration
In physiology and medicine, dehydration is defined as the excessive loss of body fluid. It is literally the removal of water from an object; however, in physiological terms, it entails a deficiency of fluid within an organism...
.
In 1929, Butler returned to Harvard as an instructor in Pediatrics
Pediatrics
Pediatrics or paediatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents. A medical practitioner who specializes in this area is known as a pediatrician or paediatrician...
. He attained the title of Professor of Pediatrics in 1944 and served as Chief of Children’s Medical Service and Staff Physician in charge of the Chemical Laboratories at Massachusetts General Hospital. He would remain at these two posts, concurrently, until 1960.
Butler’s advocacy for medical insurance and pre-paid methods of health care embroiled him in the socialized medicine
Socialized medicine
Socialized medicine is a term used to describe a system for providing medical and hospital care for all at a nominal cost by means of government regulation of health services and subsidies derived from taxation. It is used primarily and usually pejoratively in United States political debates...
debate. He would also face a loyalty review by the Civil Service Commission Loyalty Review Board. After his trial he provided support in the form of testimony
and letters for colleagues who were being tried under the Subversive Activities Control Act of 1950.
He was a dedicated opponent of the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
and a supporter of abortion rights, nuclear disarmament
Nuclear disarmament
Nuclear disarmament refers to both the act of reducing or eliminating nuclear weapons and to the end state of a nuclear-free world, in which nuclear weapons are completely eliminated....
, and nonviolent resistance
Nonviolent resistance
Nonviolent resistance is the practice of achieving goals through symbolic protests, civil disobedience, economic or political noncooperation, and other methods, without using violence. It is largely synonymous with civil resistance...
.
In 1969 Butler received the American Pediatric Society
American Pediatric Society
The American Pediatric Society / Society for Pediatric Research are joint professional and advocacy organizations for pediatricians in the United States and Canada....
's highest award, the John Howland Award
John Howland Award
The John Howland Award, considered the highest award of the American Pediatric Society, has been given since 1952 to honor those who, by their contribution to pediatrics, have aided in its advancement. A statement of purpose from the society’s constitution forms the basis for selection:-Award...
.
Research resources
- Allan Macy Butler Papers, 1916-1986(inclusive), 1930-1969(bulk), HMS c313. Harvard Medical Library, Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Center for the History of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.
- Digitized Images from the Allan Macy Butler Papers