Education
In anatomy in 1936 and, for two papers published in the Journal of Comparative Neurology, a Doctor of Science in 1941.
In anatomy in 1936 and, for two papers published in the Journal of Comparative Neurology, a Doctor of Science in 1941.
The university later awarded him an Doctor of Medicine He often traveled back to England, and worked under Grafton Elliot Smith at the University College, London. In December 1941 Abbie was called up for full-time duty in the Australian Military Forces, selected for training at the Chemical Warfare Physiology School, University of Melbourne. He trained medical personnel in methods of treating chemical warfare casualties.
In 1950, Abbie took an interest in the anatomical and phenotypic features of Australian Aborigines, leading expeditions across Australia to collect anthropomorphic data which formed the basis of his book, The Original Australians (1969).
Abbie had been president of the Anthropological Society of South Australia (1948 and 1959) and published over 120 scientific papers. He retired in 1970.
Born in England, Abbie migrated to New South Wales, Australia during his youth and in 1924 enrolled at the University of Sydney, achieving qualifications in anatomy and anthropology (Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Science, 1929). In 1934 he won the Johnston Symington prize of the Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
