McGill Library
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Letter to Thomas McCrae, February 19, 1909
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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 Thomas McCrae from William Osler, Hotel Royal, Rome, Italy. Sends him the schleroderma and erythromelalgia section. Charles Lea is here and Osler has consoled him. Glad about the work they have done on the System. Hopes Welch is working at his article. Enjoys Rome but did not have time to see the Doctors yet. Will go with Machiafava to the Medical School. Comments on the book stores and on his buys. Mention of his visit to the Vatican Library with Bannister. He had out the oldest Hippocratic and Galen MSS, dated from the 11th century. Details on his itinerary in Italy. Will sail from Naples on April 21st on Canopic to Boston. Civilities. Note from McCrae about Osler's joking about the fact that McCrae was doing all the work for the System. Will stay at his place when in Baltimore.
Copy or transcription.
Cushing's colour code: White (Correspondence)