OSLER LIBRARY NEWSLETTER

McGill University, , No. 72 - February 1993

LYMAN POWELL, , gers all but touched the floor. Then AND OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES came the memorable lines:

ir William Osler’s magnum ‘Has there any old fellow got mixed opus, The Principles and Prac- with the boys? tice of Medicine, is a classic If there has, take him out, without example of a single- making a noise. authored textbook. Never- Hang the Almanac’s cheat and the theless, he freely Catalogue’s spite! acknowledged the help of Old Time is a liar! We’re twenty to- numerous colleagues in the night!' " (6) preparation of the first edition of 1892. In a prefatory note Osler offers thanks to his resi- While the precise date of this visit with dents Henry A. Lafleur and William S. Holmes is not known, it may possibly be Thayer, the latter assisting in the section on associated with the vain call that Osler re- Blood Disease; to D. Merideth Reed, soon to ceived from Boston in May 1891 to assume die of the disease, for the statistics on tuber- the vacant Chair of the Theory and Practice culosis; and to Henry M. Thomas for his help of Physic at the Harvard Medical School. (7) with the sections on Nervous Disease and On the subject of Osler and age, Powell re- Topical Diagnosis. He also extends his grati- calls, “The man Osler was never lost in the tude to his secretary Miss B.O. Humpton and Lyman P. Powell world-famous doctor. He was human. His to Lyman P. Powell “of the Johns Hopkins staff all loved him. ....All joined in celebra- University Library for a careful revision of tion of his [42nd] birthday, and though he the manuscript.“ (l) In all of Osler’s writings, “At tea the next day with the charming was somewhat short of entering middle life, Powell’s name appears only once more in an man in trouble, the business before us he quaintly said to me: ‘Don’t count the annotation in the Bibliotheca Osleriana de- was immediately dispatched, and years. I’ll get old fast enough.’ ” scribing the writing of the textbook: Osler - as was his custom ---- with Osler’s textbook has been proclaimed a swift enthusiasm talked of things in literary as well as a scientific masterpiece. "... I had arranged to send MS. by July 1st general. Quick flashes of wit, instinc- Powell’s role in this accomplishment has [1891], and on that date I forwarded five tive expressions - dear to a young been acknowledged by Osler with but scant sections, but the publishers did not begin man ----- of good fellowship, revelations detail. For further eludication we must turn to print until the middle of August. of wide observation and much travel- to the account given by Powell shortly after The first two weeks in August I spent ling, snatches of delightful reminis- the death of Osler: in Toronto, and... I practically finished cence made the hour speed by.” the manuscript by about October 15th. “For months I spent every afternoon During the summer the entire manu- Osler was a splendid raconteur, and with Osler. In the morning to his ste- script was carefully reviewed for the among these many remembrances was a nographer he poured out a memory so press by Mr. Powell of the English De- fascinating vignette of a meeting in 1891 retentive that he rarely had to verify a partment of the University.“(2) with Oliver Wendell Holmes, unmentioned fact and out of a rich medical experi- in Cushing’s Life: ence page after page of typhoid fever, Here, Osler’s memory of Powell’s depart- mental affiliation was less than accurate. “ ‘I spent a day with him last week,’ This number of the Newsletter features In 1891 Osler, under pressure from his my host remarked. ‘You know, he is far Dr. Richard Golden in not one, but two publisher to complete the manuscript, ad- more than Autocrat of the Breakfast Table. authorial roles. First, he is responsible for dressed a request for help to the University He has had a great career in medicine. the lead article in this issue; secondly, his president: “Could President Gilman sug- He has discovered things. Back in 1843 new monograph, Oslerian Verse, has just gest some young man to whip the rapidly he ferreted out that puerperal fever been released in Osler Library Studies in accumulating manuscript into literary was contagious, and as a result thou- the History of Medicine, and is the subject form?” Gilman recommended for the task sands of mothers have lived to bring of its own article. Dr. Golden’s passion Lyman Pierson Powell (1866-1946), gradu- their babies up. And he is such a boy for things Oslerian, and the articles re- ate student in history, assistant editor of the in spite of his 82 years.’ Then Osler sulting therefrom, are familiar to regular Johns Hopkins Studies in History, and act- leaped to his feet with the spring of readers of the Newsletter. He is a member ing librarian of the department. (3) Powell youth, walked swiftly back and forth of the Library’s Board of Curators, a past had previously attended Dover Academy, across the room, flecking the ashes president of the American Osler Society, Dickinson College, and had graduated A.B. from his cigarette, and, in vivid imita- and co-author of the standard bibliog- from Johns Hopkins University in 1890 be- tion of his aged friend, made his visit raphy of Osler’s writings. Somehow, he fore embarking upon two years of graduate live again before me. He even quoted finds time to practice internal medicine studies in history, jurisprudence and eco- Holmes: ‘Who says I am growing old? on Long Island, and contribute to the nomics. (4,5) I am as young as any of you boys. Look professional literature - evidence of an Lyman Powell describes his first meeting at this’ ------flinging his arms wildly energy and diversity of interests almost with Osler: around and stooping over until his fin- as prodigious as Osler’s.

The initial letter on this page is reproduced from Alexander Nesbitt (ed.) Decorative alphabets and initials, plate 107, Dover Publications, 1959. tuberculosis, meningitis, neuroses and Surgeon-General’s Library and the Index A “GOLDEN” VOLUME OF other technical themes. When I arrived Medicus, and the planner of the Johns Hop- “OSLERIAN VERSE“ at 2 o’clock the typewritten pages were kins Hospital; W.W. Keen (1837-1932), Phila- turned over to me for arrangement. delphia surgeon, pioneer neurosurgeon and A second volume in the series of Osler Osler was modest. He embarrassed the author; Henry Pickering Bowditch (1840- Library Studies in the History of Medicine has mere boy by assertions that he really 1911), renowned Harvard physiologist who been published. This is Oslerian Verse, an an- could not write a book. But seldom established the first physiology laboratory thology of poetry by and about Sir William could I find more than a trifling inad- in the United States; Nicholas Senn (1804- Osler and his circle, selected and annotated by vertance due to a rapidity at times tu- 1909), Chicago surgeon and founder of the Dr. Richard Golden. Forty poems, some of multuous. When the first edition of Association of Military Surgeons of the them never before published, are gathered to- that book of 1,079 pages appeared at United States; and Charles McBurney (1845- gether under nine topical rubrics, ranging the end of six months without neglect 1913), New York surgeon who described from “Children” (where one can read Osler’s of any other duties, or of his supreme “McBurney’s point“ and “McBurney’s inci- doggerel postcard to the young W.W. Francis) joy, the work immediately took its sion” in appendicitis.(8,9) Although many al- to “Aequanimitas” (which includes a touch- place as the first in medicine.“ (3) ternative selections can be easily ing lyric on mortality by a young American envisioned, Osler’s list cannot be faulted ex- physician). Included in the volume are a num- Perhaps this is the account of a hero-wor- cept for the self-omission dictated by his ber of evocations of Osler by his second cousin shipper of a modesty equal to that of his natural modesty. Marion Osborne, a tribute by Weir Mitchell, a subject, but although it has the eloquent and In the latter phase of his life Powell re- Gilbertian patter-song by W.W. Francis, and persuasive ring of truth as evidenced by the turned to the ministry, serving as rector of my personal favourite, Thomas R. Boggs’ many literary triumphs that followed from St. Margaret’s Church in New York City “When William Osler Makes his Rounds”: the pen of Osler, it is logical to assume that from 1926 to 1934. He lectured extensively Powell’s contribution was a significant one. in the United States and Canada, contrib- Haste! Haste! ye clerks, make breakfast After leaving Johns Hopkins, Powell did uted articles to many magazines, and was brief, further postgraduate work at the University the author of a number of books on relig- And follow close your lord and chief; of Wisconsin and the University of Pennsyl- ious, historical and educational themes. (4,5) With paper blank and pen in fist, vania where he was a fellow and university The lives of these two men touched briefly Let not a single note be missed, extension lecturer. Embarking on studies for but momentously in 1891 with a significant When William Osler, K.C.B., F.R.S., the ministry he graduated from the Phila- effect on the literary quality of Osler’s mag- F.R.C.P., delphia Divinity School in 1897 and was or- num opus, and leaving Powell profoundly im- Makes his rounds.... dained a priest of the Protestant Episcopal pressed by the charismatic physician. Almost Church the following year. The Reverend three decades later following Osler's death, he But there is more than balladry here. Dr. Powell married Mary Gertrude Wilson, wrote with great feeling and prescience: Golden has furnished each poem with a de- daughter of a Jenkintown, Pennsylvania tailed commentary filled with his wonted eru- physician in 1899. He served the church in “Sir William Osler is gone. Scholar, dition and fine Oslerian sympathies. Errant various posts until 1912 when he left the teacher, investigator, encyclopedist in authors are identified, curious allusions ex- ministry to become the first professor of the entire field of medicine, diagnosti- plained (e.g. “Bardolphian noses” in “Our business ethics at New York University. cian with such quick insight that often Regius Prof.“), biographical context estab- Soon after, Powell assumed the presidency with one glance he recognized the ail- lished, and bibliographical references sup- of Hobard College and its associated ments represented in the circle seated plied. Finally, there are numerous illustrations, women’s branch, William Smith College round his reception room before he had some appearing here for the first time. (1913-1918). He received an honorary D.D. exchanged a word with them, friend Oslerians everywhere are bound to dis- and LL.D. degrees in 1914 and was elected with a genius to inspire and hold affec- cover something hitherto unsuspected, vice president of the Association of Ameri- tion on either side the ocean, man in fresh and entertaining in these unpreten- can Colleges in 1917. (4,5) whom greatness of mind and greatness tious, often frankly occasional poems. As In 1902 Powell, on behalf of “an impor- of heart were so mingled that it was dif- few of us compose (let alone receive) occa- tant magazine” with which he had an advi- ficult to tell where one began and the sional verse any longer, this anthology will sory relationship, wrote to Osler requesting other ended, he will one day be the sub- also evoke the atmosphere of Osler’s Victo- his selection of the seven leading physicians ject of a notable biography.“ (3) rian and Edwardian world in a particularly of the United States for a proposed article. direct way. And if we feel ourselves lost in Lyman Powell, who was associated with the BIBLIOGRAPHY an era we no longer recognize, Richard educational departments of the St. Nicholas, Golden’s concise and pertinent commen- Century, and Cosmopolitain magazines, sent 1. Osler, W. The Principles and Practice of Medicine. 1st tary will clarify and explain matters for us. along his own choices with Osler’s name ed. New York: Appleton; 1892: v. We are grateful to Dr. Golden for having heading the list. On February 2, 1903, on his 2. Osler, W. Bibliotheca Osleriana. Montreal: McGill- gathered this antique nosegay, and for hav- ‘1 West Franklin St.’ (Baltimore) stationery, Queen’s University Press; 1969: 3544. ing preserved the unique perfume of each 3. Powell, L.P. The New York Times. Jan. 4, 1920, VIII, Osler replied as follows: 18: 1. of its blooms. 4. The Ferdinand Hamburger, Jr. Archives; The Milton In format, Oslerian Verse is uniform with “Dear Mr. Powell: I think that you might S. Eisenhower Library; The Johns Hopkins University. the first volume in this series, Dr. E.H. Ben- leave me out of the list of seven sages! I 5. The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography. New sley’s McGill Medical Luminaries. Copies may should put Mitchell, Welch, Billings, York: James T. White & Co.; 1948: XXXIV, 77-78. be ordered from the Library for $20, or $15 Keen, Bowditch, Senn and McBurney. 6. Holmes, O.W. The Boys (1859). In: Holmes, O.W. for Friends of the Osler Library (an order Yours sincerely, Wm. Osler” (3) The Complete Poetic Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes. Cam- form is included in the Newsletter which also bridge Edition. Boston and New York: Houghton, Mifflin includes two other publications: Bibliotheca There is no record as to how closely and Co.; 1895: 118-119. Osleriana and The Osler Library). Canadian 7. Cushing, H. The Life of Sir William Osler. Oxford: Osler’s choices matched those of Powell. In Clarendon Press, vol. I, 1925, 351. Friends should remit in Canadian currency his pantheon of greatness he placed S. Weir 8. Garrison, F.H. An Introduction to the History of Medi- (the price includes GST), and American Mitchell (1829-1914), Philadelphia neurolo- cine. 4th ed. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Co.; 1929. Friends in U.S. dollars. gist, physiologist, and novelist; William H. 9. Castiglioni, A. A History of Medicine. 2nd ed. New Welch (1850-1934), Johns Hopkins patholo- York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.; 1947. Faith Wallis gist, educator and historian; John Shaw Bill- ings (1838-1913), principal founder of the

2 ADOPT-A-BOOK: AN UPDATE

The Osler Library’s battered books con- tinue to find generous patrons who are will- ing to “adopt” them for restoration. Since the inception of the “Adopt-a-Book“ cam- paign (cf. Newsletter issues for October 1991 and February 1992), seventeen volumes put up for adoption have been taken. Recently, Mme Edith Low-Beer, on behalf of the EJLB Foundation, took no less than five books under her wing, including Bulwer’s Philoco- phus: or, the Deafe and Dumbe Man’s Friend, Nathaniel Hodges’ Loimologia: or, an Histori- cal Account of the Plague in London in 1665, William Cowper’s Anatomy of Humane Bod- ies, Daniel Le Clerc’s Histoire de la médecine and an incunabulum, the Fasciculus tem- porum. On behalf of Associated Medical Services of Toronto, its President, Dr. Don- ald Wilson, has underwritten the repair of two of the most unusual items on our list chosen by the Library, Roger’s A Modern Sphinx (a biography of the enigmatic Dr. “James” Barry, a 19th century military sur- geon who may well have been a woman), and the Mosaicall Philosophy of Robert Fludd, occult philosopher and ally of William Harvey Thomas Bartholin’s Anatome is also on its way to rehabilitation, thanks to a gift from Mrs. Margaret Sifton of Town of Mount Royal, , and Dr. Lesley Gill has adopted John Floyer’s Sibylline Oracles, chosen by the Library. The response to the Adopt-a-Book program is a source of surprise, as well as gratitude, for the Library staff. Compared with acquiring new books, repairing old ones might seem at first sight to be uninteresting and lacking in appeal. But it is evident that the Library has friends and supporters who are imaginative and far-sighted as well as generous. Our sin- cere thanks goes out to them all for helping us For example, the manuscript’s designer cient medicine, who will now be able to ex- to restore our finest treasures. chose to present the plants in groups of two amine and compare at the Osler Library to four on the page, rather than devoting an these two representatives of a rich, but van- AN ITALIAN TWIN FOR OUR VIENNA entire page to a single specimen. The quality ished iconographic tradition. DIOSCURIDES of the text is superior in the Naples copy, and the illustrations, though not as fine MILESTONES In 1985, the Osler Library had the good from an artistic point of view as those in the fortune to be able to acquire, through a Vienna manuscript, are more lifelike. Hearty congratulations are due to Dr. grant from the University’s Director of Li- Though historians know something Theodore Sourkes, a member of the Li- braries, Dr. Hans Möller, a facsimile edition about the history and extent of the ancient brary’s Board of Curators, who has recently of one of the most important and beautiful practice of medical-botanical illustration been named to the in rec- medical manuscripts of the Middle Ages, from references in classical works like ognition for his important contributions to the “Vienna Dioscurides”. This is an illus- Pliny’s Natural History, very few examples psychiatric pharmacology. trated herbal based on a famous encyclo- of such books have survived. Among the We are saddened to hear news of the paedia of medicinal plants by Pedanius rare witnesses of this tradition are the Vi- death of Muriel Howard, widow of the late Dioscurides, a Greek military physician enna and Naples Dioscurides manuscripts. Dr. Palmer Howard of Iowa City, Iowa. The who flourished in the middle of the first Hence it gives us special pleasure to an- links between the Howard family and Osler century A.D. The Vienna codex was made nounce that, thanks to funds made available go back to Osler’s student days at McGill, about A.D. 512 for a Byzantine princess through the Friends of the Osler Library, a when he fell under the sway of the then named Anicia Julia, to thank her for endow- facsimile of the Naples Dioscurides has Dean, Robert Palmer Howard, one of the ing the construction of a parish church in been purchased as a companion for our Vi- three dedicatees of Principles and Practice of the suburbs of Constantinople. Approxi- enna volume. Published by Salerno Editrice Medicine. Over the years, Howards of every mately one hundred years later, another il- in Rome, in collaboration with Akademis- generation have been firm friends and sup- lustrated manuscript of the same che Druck of Graz, Austria, publishers of porters of the Library, and in the case of Dr. Dioscurides herbal was made in Italy, then the Vienna Dioscurides, this facsimile repro- Palmer Howard, diligent researchers into under Byzantine rule. This second Dios- duces the original manuscript in virtually things Oslerian as well. Our sympathies are curides, now in the Biblioteca Nazionale in every detail, even down to the irregular extended to Palmer and Muriel Howard’s Naples, is evidently derived from the same edges of the “parchment” pages. The acqui- children, Caroline Mast of Iowa City, and model as Anicia Julia’s book, but it varies sition of this facsimile will be of particular Dr. Campbell Howard of Kansas City. from the Vienna codex in significant ways. interest to art historians and students of an-

3 FRIENDS OF THE OSLER * Stephen D. Clark † William B. Hutchinson † Robert Z. Perkins LIBRARY Elizabeth Clark-Price † Brahm B. Hyams * Sharon Pipon * Alan J.H. Coffey † Reed W. Hyde Jean-Maurice Poitras The Library gratefully acknow- * Jack Cohen † J. William lbbott Robin Price † Audrey Copping † Mark Ivey Jr. ledges the support it has received * Raymond Prince * Elizabeth S. Crahan Robert Jackson † Peter Pulrang from Friends, both old and new, who † R.F.P Cronin † Dr. & Mrs. Stanley W. Jackson * Herbert Rakatansky have responded to the appeal for * Fern E. Culver Saul Jarcho Harris D. Riley Jr. funds for the 1992-93 academic year. Martin M. Cummings Orville N. Jones * Reed D. Riley To date 266 Friends have given a to- * Rebecca Dainow (In honour of Dr. Theo- Harriet Joseph * A.H.T. Robb-Smith tal of approximately $15,037. A spe- dore Sourkes in being named Officer of Serge Jothy * K.B. Roberts cial donation of $5000 (U.S.) has the Order of Canada) † Stuart P. Kenning † Harold N. Rode been received for the Osler Library * N.A. D’Amato * Ralph J. Kimmerly * Alvin E. Rodin and for the use of the History of Charles S. Davidson * Douglas G. Kinnear * N. Paul Rosman † F. Andrew Davis † Lloyd W. Kitchens Jr. Medicine Librarian and another do- * Robert S. Rothwell * Eric De Bellaigue Neil Klar Royal College of Physicians nation of $5,500 from MAP (McGill * George E. Delaney (On behalf of Dr. An- † Gordon Krip Morris H. Saffron Advancement Program) designated drew G. Villaneuva) Joseph J. Kristan J.W. Savacool for various projects. Most of the con- * Patrice Delavenne Camilo Larrain Ralph Schlaeger tributions have come from Friends † Marjorie Dewar * Donald G. Lawrence * John W. Scott in Canada and the United States of Nicholas Dewey * Michael Lefson * Sydney Segall America. However, very welcome † A.R.C. Dobell † Geoffrey W. Lehman * Pierre M. Senécal contributions have also come from * Alfred M. Donovan * Philip W. Leon * O.P. Sharma Australia, Brazil, Chile, Germany, Ja- † Patrick M. Doran George W. Lilley † Huntington Sheldon * William R. Dorsey * Hoong Lim pan, Switzerland, and the United R.T. Shields Jr. Donald E. Douglas † A. Brian Little Seymour A. Siegal Kingdom. † Keith N. Drummond * Malcolm H. MacDonald † Mark E. Silverman The names of Friends whose con- Jacqueline M. Duffin Douglas W. MacEwan * Emmanuel Simantirakis tributions are recorded after January * Thomas W. Dukes * K.T. MacFarlane * Warren G. Smirl 31, 1993 will be listed in the June Clara Dunleavy † C. Dunella MacLean * Asa J. Smith issue of the Newsletter. † James W. Dutton † J. Peter MacLeod † E. Kenneth Smith † David G. Eastman † J. Wendell MacLeod † Ralph Sortor Anne G. Abel * Paul J. Edelson * Harold M. Malkin † Theodore L. Sourkes * HarryAllister † Martin A. Entin † Edward L. Margetts † William B. Spaulding † Kenneth B. Andras Matthew D. Epstein * Harry H. Marsh * Edward A. Sprague † Sidney W. Arnold Helene Fallen Robert U. Massey * Elvira Stahl Joseph & Annette Aspler * Chris M. Feindel James A. Mastrianni Donald E. Stanley * Shayna Aster † Charlotte Ferencz * George B. Maughan † D.H. Starkey John C. Ball Clare M. Flint † Eleanor McGarry † Lea C. Steeves † Jeremiah A. Barondess * R. Roy Forsey † John P. McGovern Yaron Sternbach * Ronald Barr * Robert A. Fortuine † Maurice McGregor * Marvin J. Stone Robert H. Bartlett † Louis H. Francescutti Bessie McKinlay G.T. Tanselle * Don G. Bates T. Emmett Francoeur * Eric McLean * Harry Taube * Ronald Bayne † Jennifer Fraser * Wayne T. McShane William A. Taylor William K. Beatty * Richard S. Fraser † J.F. Meakins Eric Teboul * Jean Beaudoin † Samuel O. Freedman Medical Student’s Association, B.W. Teigen Irving A. Beck * John W. Frost University of Alberta * R. Carmichael Tilghman William C. Beck * Palmer H. Futcher Medizinhistorisches Institüt der * Dr. & Mrs. G. Tourney * L. George Bendikas * W. Bruce Fye Universität Bern † Catherine L. Townsend George D. Berkett † Richard R. Galpin * Ronald Melzack † André Turmel Abel E. Berland Arnold B. Gardner * Erich Meyerhoff * Richard C. U’Ren † Peter G. Bernad * Toby Gelfand † Tom Middlebro’ A.H. Van Soest Robert K. Blair * Roger Ghys * Gabriella M. Miotto * Ronald E. Vlietstra * Zlata Blazina Allan Gibofsky † R.E. Mitchell * Frederick B. Wagner Harry Bloch † William C. Gibson * K. Jack Momose Lester Wallman G.R. Blott * John E. Gilbert † John R. Moore * George C. Walsh Georges Bordage † Susan A. Gillespie Sumner E. Moulton Anne H. Walters André Bouthillette * Pierre Gloor † J. Fraser Muirhead * Karin-Maria Waterhouse † J. Robert Bowen * C. M. Godfrey † Earl F. Nation * Jean F. Webb † John W. Brennan Jr. * Alan B. Gold National Museum of Science Wellcome Institute for the History * Ivan W. Brown Jr. * Philip Gold and Technology of Medicine † Rea A. Brown David S. Goldbloom * Morton Nathanson Jan W. Weryho † R. Forbes Buchan * Richard L. Golden John A. Newsom † Robert G. Wilson † Howard B. Burchell * James T. Goodrich † Granville H. Nickerson † L. S. Wolfe J. Walker Butin * Douglas L. Gordon † Haskell F. Norman Muriel B. Wood † Robert Campbell † Peter E. Greig Jeremy Norman & Co., Inc. † David C. Young † D.J. Canale John H. Griest † Richard T. O’Kell Fernande Cantero * Peter H. Gruner * John O’Neil † Patron Richard M. Caplan Mary S. Guggenheimer Ynez Viole O’Neill * Supporting David R. Carlin II † Fraser N. Gurd † Linda Ordogh † John C. Carson * Rosemary Haddad * E.W. Outerbridge John C. Cashin Anthony J. Hall Harry Oxorn Editorial Committee for the Newsletter: Faith Centre Canadien D’Architecture † Eve Osler Hampson Linda Panton Wallis, Osler Librarian and Editor; Edward H. * Françoise P. Chagnon Walter J. Hannak G. Kenneth Parke Bensley, Honorary Osler Librarian and Con- * Donald A. Chambers George T. Harrell * W. David Parsons sulting Editor; Wayne LeBel, Assistant History † Ian Hart * Bruce Charles * Murray C. Patrick of Medicine Librarian and Assistant Editor; * Richard R. Cherry * Theodore J. Haywood Merle G. Peden Lily Szczygiel, Editorial Assistant. † L. Parker Chesney * Shigeaki Hinohara Pennsylvania Hospital, † Francis P. Chinard † Muriel I. Howard Medical Library † Wallace B. Chung † John D.W. Hsu Charles R. Perakis Legal Deposit l/1993 ISSN 0085-4557