Thomas Frederick ("Tom") Adelaar was a son of Hendrikus Arnoldus Matthias ("Harry") Adelaar and his wife Susanna Francina, born Dreyer. He matriculated at the Oost Eind Hoërskool, Pretoria, in 1926 and qualified as a veterinarian in the Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, at Onderstepoort in 1932. He served as State Veterinarian at Potgietersrus until 1938 and then at the research station on the farm Armoedsvlakte, near Vryburg, until 1942, when he was transferred to the Virology Section of the Veterinary Research Institute at Onderstepoort. In 1947 he succeeded Dr Douw Steyn* as senior lecturer and head of the Toxicology Section. He served in this capacity for 26 years, until 1973, when the Veterinary Faculty became independent of the Veterinary Research Institute. He then remained with the institute until his retirement in 1974. He published on a variety of veterinary topics between 1941 and 1973, usually with one or more co-authors, but is best known for his work on toxic plants in South Africa.

Adelaar was an impressive, tall man with an outgoing personality and a popular lecturer with much practical experience. He was know particularly for his accurate field diagnoses.

List of sources:

Author and Subject Index to the Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Science and Animal Industry (1933-1950) and the Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research (1951-1968). Pretoria: Department of Agricultural Technical services, June 1969.

Bigalke, R. D. Veterinary education in South Africa: The classes of 1932 and 1933. Journal of the South African Veterinary Association, 2007, Vol. 78(4), pp. 185-187. Retrieved on 11 November 2022 from: file:///C:/Users/User/Downloads/320-851-1-SM (1).pdf

Google scholar. http://scholar.google.co.za/ , publications by T. F. Adelaar.

Posthumus, P.J. Past Veterinarians in South Africa, Vol. 1, 10th edition, [1992].

Susanna Dreyer. My Heritage. Retrieved on 11 November 2022 from: https://www.myheritage.com/names/susanna_dreyer

Compiled by: D.W. Verwoerd

Last updated: 2022-11-14 10:12:04