McGill Library
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Letter to George Dock, December 17, 1918
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A major figure in modern medical history, Sir William Osler is well known as a scientific researcher, a great medical pedagogue, a humanist, and an advocate for a patient-centered approach to medicine.
Born in Bond Head, Ontario, in 1849, Osler earned his medical degree at McGill University, and later taught at McGill's Faculty of Medicine from 1874 until 1884. Osler then joined the faculty at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, where he was appointed Chair of Clinical Medicine before becoming Physician-in-Chief and one of the "Big Four" founders of Johns Hopkins Hospital and medical school in Baltimore – the first school of its kind to train medical students in a modern residency program. Osler finished his career as Regius Professor of Medicine at Oxford University, where he also devoted time to his passion for book collecting. His library of nearly eight thousand rare and historic works of the history of medicine and science is known as the Bibliotheca Osleriana, documented by a published catalogue of the same title.
Sir William Osler was knighted in 1911 in recognition of his contributions to medical science and teaching. His library of 7600 volumes on the history of medicine and science bequeathed to McGill University forms the nucleus of the present Osler Library of the History of Medicine. His life and contributions to medicine are described in detail in the Pulitzer-Prize winning biography "Life of Sir William Osler" (London: Oxford University Press, 1925) by Harvey Cushing.
Letter to George Dock from William Osler, 13, Norham Gardens, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England. Acknowledges his letter of the 26th when he got back from a War Office discussion about gas and gassing. Hopes Dock's son will be able to visit him before going back. The American Hospitals are rapidly closing. Will have 25 of the Denver Unit for lunch and 25 from Dartford Hospital. Kind comments on the American Hospitals. The Portsmouth one (from Albany) is a model. He has seen a lot of Norris and Gibbon of Philadelphia. News of his library. Project to print his circulation cards as a sort of example. Mentions the influenza outbreak. Glad that Dock saw Shipley and Walker. Mentions that there is no chance for him of getting over next year. Civilities. P.S. Sad about Jacobi.
Copy or transcription.
Cushing's colour code: White (Correspondence)