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Letter to George Dock, March 15, 1915
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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, From the Regius Professor of Medicine, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England. Glad that they had the Beaumont collection, which is more appropriate there than at the Surgeon General's. Asks him for a photograph of St. Martin at 81 (Alexis St. Martin). They are busy medically. Details on the cerebro-spinal fever epidemic, and of his work with the typhoid inoculation. Noted that it is curious that the paratyphoid is prevailing so extensively. He lectured at Chester to the North Wales Medical Society on the soldier's heart. Mentions that there are many cases of the old-fashioned irritable heart of DaCosta, of worry, tobacco, and too much exercise. He had bought the Withering Paper, a manuscript of Perigrination of Andrew Boorde, and an edition of Aristotle. Revere has joined the Canadian Contingent and is assigned to Cliveden Hospital as orderly officer. He will go to France with the McGill Unit. Mentions Revere's interest in books and literature. Sends him a copy of his bookplate. Mentions the 22 Belgian professors and their families living on American money. Things are beginning to look hopeful. Civilities.
Copy or transcription.
Cushing's colour code: White (Correspondence)