SIR WILLIAM OSLER (1849–1919): THE EARLY YEARS,WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO HIS BOYHOOD DAYS IN DUNDAS,CANADA

1 Cushing H. The life of Sir William Osler. Two volumes. Oxford at the Claredon Press; 1925. Reprinted by the Classics of Medicine Library; Birmingham, Alabama; 1982.

2 Reid EG. The Great Physician. A short life of Sir William Osler. London: Oxford University Press; 1931.

3 Rogues JD. Rebels and Geniuses. The story of Canadian medicine. Toronto: Doubleday Canada Limited; 1981. Chapter 16: William Osler; 147-76. Chapter 17: Osler Abroad; 177-203.

4 Radbill SX. William Osler as a patron of pediatrics. Clin Pediatr 1978; 17:521-6.

5 Freese AS. He was a family doctor to the world. Today’s Health 1968; 46:38-41.

6Ripman HA editor. Guy’s Hospital 1725–1948. London: Clarke and Sherwell Ltd; 1951; 28. Samuel Wilks appeared in the historical novel, Vanity Fair (1848), by William Makepeace Thackeray (1811–63) as Philosophical Pathology. He became President of the Royal College of Physicians of London in 1896, and has a bronze plaque in Guy’s Medical School.

7 Abbott ME. Osler’s pathological collections and his literary output. Canad Med Assoc J 1940; 42:284-8.

8 Landis HRM. The pathological records of the Blockley Hospital. Int Assoc Med Mus Bull (Special Osler memorial number) 1926; 9:232-7.

9 Osler W. Influenzal pneumonia. Lancet 1919; 1:501.

10 Golden RL Roland CG editors. Sir William Osler. An annotated bibliography with illustrations. San Francisco: Norman Publishing; 1988. Norman Bibliography Series No.1.

11 Osler W. Aequanimitas with other addresses to medical students, nurses and practitioners of medicine. London: HK Lewis and Co Ltd; 1948.

12 Osler W. The evolution of modern medicine. New Haven: Yale University Press; 1921. Reprinted by the Classics of Medicine Library; Birmingham, Alabama; 1982.

13 Osler W. The principles and practice of medicine. New York: Appleton; 1892. Reprinted by the Classics of Medicine Library; Birmingham, Alabama; 1978.

14 Bryan CS. Mr Gates’ summer vacation: a centennial remembrance. Ann Int Med 1997; 127:148-53.

15 Haskell F. Bibliotheca Osleriana. Oxford: Oxford at the Claredon Press; 1929. Norman Collection.

16 Gray C. The Osler Library: a collection that represents the mind of a collector. Canad Med Assoc J 1978; 119:1442-5.

17 Rakel RE. Osler’s humanity as reflected in his interactions with children and the elderly. Houston Medicine 1989; 5:61-6.

18 Rodin AE Key JD. Sir William Osler and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Medical humanists. Humane Medicine 1990; 6:46-52.

19 Bryan CS. Osler: inspirations of a great physician. New York: Oxford University Press; 1997.

20 Bean WB. Sir William Osler, aphorisms from his bedside teachings and writings. Springfield, Illinois: Charles C. Thomas; 1951.

21 Wilkinson A. Lions in the way: A discursive history of the Oslers. The Macmillan Company of Canada Ltd; 1956.

22 Cule J. Sir William Osler and his Welsh connections. Postgrad Med J 1988; 64:568-74.

23The Reform Party in Canada today has no connection with the party of the same name led by William Lyon Mackenzie.

24The Family Compact was a disparaging epithet applied to a small group who dominated the governing of Upper Canada (Ontario). The Compact, centered in York (now Toronto), was linked by family, patronage, political (Tory), and religious (Anglican) beliefs. Members were staunchly loyalist and hostile to the United States, and were, as an aristocratic ruling elite, deeply resented by Mackenzie’s Reformers.

25This is the reason why it is illegal to sell alcoholic beverages during an election today in Ontario.

26 Mackenzie WL. His own narrative of the rebellion. Toronto: Raus and Mann Ltd; 1937.

27Durnford H editor. Heritage of Canada. Montreal: The Reader’s Digest Association (Canada) Ltd; 1978; 195-203.

28Report on the affairs of British North America (1839) by Lord Durham concluded that Upper Canada was indeed governed, as Mackenzie had maintained, by ‘a petty corrupt, insolent Tory clique’.

29 Watson P Barber B. The struggle for democracy. Toronto: Lester and Orpen Dennys Ltd; 1988.

30The Oxford Movement of the Anglican Church was an attempt to return to an ancient and undivided Christian Church, which was opposed to the Roman Catholic Church and the Reformation, especially ‘popular Prostestants’. Its principal advocates included Edward Bouverie Pusey (1800–82) and Cardinal John Henry Newman (1801–90).

31 Buchanan WW. The Canadian Pacific Railway and Louis Riel: Canada’s alpha and omega. Proc R Coll Physicians Edinb 1990; 20:258-361.

32This is believed in Canada to mean the fort on the waters. The name, however, is a compound of d&n (masc), a fort, and the genitive of dorn (masc), a fist, i.e. d&irn. The name Dundas is probably D&ndeas, ie. south fort.

33Dundasians refer to their town as Paradise. The winter storm of 1999, the worst since 1871, may persuade some to drop the sobriquet!

34 Robertson JR. The diary of Mrs John Graves Simcoe. Toronto: William Briggs; 1911.

35Dundas is often described as the Valley Town. In Scotland it would be more accurately described by the Gaelic srath (masc), and the English strath, since it has a river running through it. A creek usually refers to a small stream, or what in Scotland is referred to as a burn, but Spenser’s creek in Dundas can be a fast moving river.

36 Rooney P WF Kean Buchanan WW. McMaster: is the experiment in medical education of any relevance to the Scottish Universities? Scott Med J 1983; 28:290-2. Although Sir William Osler always welcomed new ideas I am not convinced he would have been entirely happy with problem based learning, especially with little emphasis on morbid anatomy.

37Sir William Osler went for a year of theological study in 1867 to the University of Trinity College in Toronto before transferring to Medicine at the University of Toronto. Charles Darwin (1809–82) published his landmark treatise on the origin of the species in 1859. Osler met Darwin in 1874 when he was studying at University College in London. He considered him a ‘wide-visioned’ and ‘kindly old man’. Despite his theological instruction, Osler believed that ‘the future belongs to science’ (see reference 1).

38 Golden RL. Sir William Osler’s angina pectoris and other disorders. Am J Cardiol 1987; 60:175-8.

39 Roland CG. Sir William Osler’s dreams and nightmares. Bull Hist Med 1980; 54:418-46.

40 Robb-Smith AHT. Did Sir William Osler have carcinoma of the lung? Sir William Osler and the Tony pandy phenomenon (in two parts). Chest 1974; 66:712-6. 1975; 67:82-7.

41 Barondess JA. A case of empyema? Notes on the last illness of Sir Willian Osler. Trans Am Clin Climatol Assoc 1975; 86: 59-72.

42The exact location of this spring is unknown. The canal is named after Pierre Desjardins (?–1827) who came from Picardy, France, to Canada in 1792.

43 Osler W. Christmas and the microscope. Hardwicke’s science-gossip. London: Cooke MC, editor; 1870; 5:44.

44 Osler W. Bibliotheca Osleriana: a catalogue of books illustrating the history of medicine and science, collected, arranged, and annotated by Sir William Osler; Bt. And bequeathed to McGill University. Montreal: McGill-Queen’s University Press; 1969; xxiii. The first edition was published at the Clarendon Press, Oxford in 1929. It was reprinted as above with a new prologue, addenda, and corrigenda by Lloyd G. Stevenson.

45The quotation from Horace is from his Odes, Book I, Poem 9, lines 2–4. The Ode is often referred to as the Soracte Ode, although not an ancient title. Soracte is some 20 miles north of Rome. The translation is: You see how Soracte (modern Monte Soratte) stands gleaming white in deep snow and the straining woods no longer support their burden and the streams are stayed by sharp ice.

46 Osler W. Canadian Diatomeceae. Canad Naturalist Quart J Sci 1870; 5:142-51.

47 Tod JL. Osler, as a naturalist. Intern Med Mus Bull 1926; 9:150.

48 Naylor D. Osler’s first medical publications. Canad Med Assoc J 1984; 131:800-5.

49 Roland CG. Osler’s writing style. JAMA 1969; 210:2257-60.

50 Osler W. Verminous bronchitis in dogs. The Veterinarian 1877; 1:387-97.

51Osler’s eponym is still used to a species, osleri, in the genus Filaroides, of the order Strongylaedea (Filaroides osleri).

52 Osler W. On certain parasites in the frog. Canad Naturalist (new series) X:406-10.

53 Osler W. Note on Contributions to American Helminthology by Ramsey Wright. Proc Canad Inst (new series) 1884; 1:54-74.

54 Osler W. Amphistoma conicum in paunch of cow. Rept Canada M &S J 1882-83; xi:298.

55 Osler W An investigation into the parasites in the pork supply of Montreal Clement AW. , Canada. M &S J Montreal 1882–83; xi:325-36.

56 Osler W. Actinomykosis (in jaw of cow). Rept Canada M &S J 1883-84; XII;599.

57 Osler W. Cysticerus in the brain of a pig. Rept Canada Pract Toronto 1884; IX:353.

58 Osler W. I) Taenia echinococcus; II) Cysticercus cellulosae of brain, heart and voluntary muscles; III) Liver with dilation and calcification of the bile ducts, the effects of flukes. Rept Tr Path Soc Philadelphia 1885-87; XIII: 222-4.

59 Osler W. Blood parasites of frogs. New York Med J 1899; LXIX:63-4.

60 Osler W. On the pathology of the so-called pig typhoid. Rept Vet J Ann Comp Path 1878; VI:385-402.

61 Osler W. I) Bronchitis in a calf – purulent bronchiectasis; II) Glanders in the head of a horse; III) Verminous aneurism in horse. Rept Med News Philadelphia 1882; XL:250-1.

62 Osler W Clement AW. Diffuse purulent bronchiectasy in a calf with morbid anatomy notes. J Compar M &S New York 1882; III:317-9.

63 Osler W Clement AW. Chronic bronchitis – spurious melanosis of lungs in a dog. J Compar M &S New York 1882; III:319-20.

64 Osler W Clement AW. Haemato-pyometra in a bitch. J Compar M &S New York 1882; III:320-1.

65 Osler W. Liver of a cow with extensive tuberculosis. Rept Canada M &S J Montreal 1882-83; XI: 424-5.

66 Osler W Clement AW. Cestode tuberculosis. Rept Am Vet Rev New York 1882; VI:6-12.

67 Osler W. Lungs of a horse which had died of pneumonia following epidemic influenza. Canada M &S J Montreal 1882-83; XI:498.

68 Osler W. Extensive cystic disease of the liver of a pig. J Compar M &S New York 1883; IV:313.

69 Osler W. Pneumo-enteritis of the hog. Rept Canada M &S J Montreal 1882-82; XII:429.

70 Osler W. Scarlet fever and disease in cattle. Editorial. J Compar M &S Philadelphia 1888; IX:177-9.

71 Opie EL McCullum WG. On the haemocytozoa of birds. (Discussion by William Osler) Rept. Johns Hopkins Hospital Bull 1897; VIII:52-3.

72 Osler W. Report on Pictou cattle disease investigations. Report of the Minister of Agriculture for the Dominion of Canada for the Calendar Year 1882. Veterinarian London 1883; LVI:478-85.

73 Osler W. The relations of animal to man. Rept Vet J Ann Comp Path 1876; III:465-6.

74 Osler W. Comparative pathology. Rept Vet J &Ann Comp Path London 1878; VII:405.

75 Osler W. Contagious pleuro-pneumonia. Editorial (unsigned). Med News Philadelphia 1886; XLIX:379.

76 Osler W. On the resolution that further research in swinefever should be undertaken at one or more university centres as well as at the Government laboratory at Alperton. Remarks in discussion. The Times: 4 May 1914; London.

77 Osler W. Portion of muscle, intestine and kidney from horse dying of toxic haemoglobinuria azoturia. Rept Canada M &S J Montreal 1883-84; XII:545.

78 Osler W. Graduation thesis on pathological anatomy. Unpublished statement in Canada M J Montreal 1872; VIII: 473-4.

79 Osler W. An account of certain organisms occurring in the liquor sanguinis. Proc Roy Soc London 1873–4; 22:391-8.

80 Donn A. De l’origine des globules du sang, de leur mode de formation et de leur fin. C R Acad Sci 1842; 14:366-8.

81 Osler W. The third corpuscle of the blood. Med News Philadelphia 1883; XLIII:701-2. Also translated under the title Ueber den dritten Formbestandteil des Blutes. Centralbl f. d. med Wissensch Berlin 1882; XX:529-31.

82 Osler W. On certain problems in the physiology of the blood corpuscles I) The blood-plaque or third corpuscle; II) Degeneration and regeneration of the corpuscles; III) the relation of the corpuscles to coagulation and thrombosis (the Cartwright Lectures). Med News Philadelphia 1886; XLVIII:365-70.

83 Osler W. Chronic infectious endocarditis. Quart J Med Oxford. 1908-09; II:219-30.

84Obituary Archibald Edward Malloch. Canad Med Assoc J 1919; 1032-3.

85Baily TM editor. Dictionary of Hamilton biography. Volume 1. Hamilton, Canada: WL Griffith Ltd; 1981; 147-8.

86 Fisher RB. Joseph Lister 1827–1912. London: MacDonald and Jane’s Publishers Ltd: 1977; 136-7.

87 Lister J. On a new method of treating compound fractures, abscess, etc., with observations in the conditions of suppuration. Lancet 1867; 1:326-9.

88 Stott RM. Hamilton’s Doctors 1863–1935. Guardians of the City’s Health. Hamilton, Ontario: Hamilton Academy of Medicine Foundation; 1995.

89 Malloch AE. Case of abscess treated by drainage with an oily solution of carbolic acid in linseed oil. Read before the Hamilton Medical and Surgical Society. Canada Med J 1869; 6:154-7.

90 Malloch AE. Antiseptic ovariotomy – multilocular ovarian cyst – extensive parietal adhesions – recovery. The Canada Lancet 1880; XII:129-31.

91Anonymous. Letter of reference by Lord Lister on behalf of Dr A.E. Malloch. 27 November 1868. Men and Books Canad Med Assoc J 1954; 71:623.

92Anonymous. A letter from Lord Lister to Dr A.E. Malloch of Hamilton, Ontario. Men and Books Canad Med Assoc J 1954; 71:622-23.

93 Osler W. On the educational value of the medical society. In: Aequanimitas. London: HK Lewis and Co Ltd; 1948; 329-45.

94 Osler W. Doctors’ signs. Canadian J Med Sci 1882; XII:300-4.

95 Buchanan WW. Sir William Osler of Dundas. J Roy Soc Med 1990; 83:45-7.

96 Walton J M Brain Fletcher C. Sir William Osler’s gown returns home. BMJ 1984; 289:1755-6.