McGill Library
McLennan Library Building3459 rue McTavish
Montreal, Quebec
H3A 0C9
Letter to Mabel Brewster, September 7, 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 Mabel Brewster from William Osler, No.3 Canada General Hospital, McGill Unit, Camiers, France. Long letter where he relates day after day his experience at the McGill Unit. Description of the site, of the men, of the hospitals. Revere is assistant quartermaster with 40 men to control. He sometimes feels that he should be off in the fighting line, and wishes that his parents would not oppose it. The nurses are all from the Royal Victoria or the Montreal General Hospital. Law, the quartermaster is an old family friend. The Harvard Unit and the Chicago unit are close to them. The patients come from the Ypres district. On Sunday, He , Campbell Howard, W.W. Francis and Revere went to eat at Hardelot. The Indian troops are at Montreuil. Description of his itinerary on the road to the Front. Details about his experience there. Description of the receiving of a convoy at the hospital. Mentions typhoid and paratyphoid cases. He enjoyed his experience and wishes he could have stayed longer, but he has to to be in Leeds October 1st, to give two addresses. Grace is taking her first holiday for a year. Will send her a copy of his father's journal and papers. Wishes he could be with them at Mt. Kisco. Does not believe this horrid business will ever be over, but they are keeping up their courage. Civilities.
Copy or transcription.
Cushing's colour code: White (Correspondence)