Clever Kiwi inventor dies
06 May 2008
One of New Zealand's most significant yet understated inventors has died after a long battle with cancer.
Colin Murdoch, 79 can lay claim to having revolutionised medical and veterinary science by creating the disposable syringe, tranquilliser gun, childproof bottle cap and the silent burglar alarm.
He was born in the South Island city of Christchurch in 1929 but spent more than 50 years of his life in Timaru, South Canterbury. Murdoch was born both ambidextrous and dyslexic - the latter condition he outgrew later in life but it made his schooling difficult.
Despite that he became a pharmaceutical and veterinary chemist as well as an inventor. Working late at night at the kitchen table or in his workshop Murdoch was to patent 46 inventions and became a self-taught engineer. His most famous and influential invention for the well-being of humankind was the disposable syringe which he developed more than 50 years ago.
The catalyst for this invention came when as a young pharmacist he became aware of the dangers of cross infection between patients.
In 1959 he created an effective tranquilliser dart and rifle system.
Murdoch took part in testing the equipment and travelled around the world trialing it on large game animals. His equipment had variable velocity control for the syringe darts lessening the force of impact and trauma for the animal. In 2000, Murdoch was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to inventing.
Last year he featured in a series of New Zealand Post stamps, "clever Kiwis", celebrating five inventors.
Murdoch was diagnosed with cancer in 1991. A tumour that had spread from his sinuses led to the removal of an eye, part of his jaw and the roof of his mouth.
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