William Osler’S Bibliomania

THE ·OSLER·LI BRARY·NEWSLE TTER· NUMBER 98 · 2002 Osler Library of the History of Medicine, McGill University, Montréal (Québec) Canada • IN THIS ISSUE WILLIAM OSLER’S BIBLIOMANIA The lead article in this number of the century ago, William Osler first books: the popular Globe edition by Dr. Bruce (1849-1919) was the English- of Shakespeare’s works and the 1862 Frye Osler Library Newsletter is by Dr. Bruce Aspeaking world’s most Ticknor and Fields edition of Thomas Fye, historian, Oslerian, and prominent physician and medical Browne’s Religio Medici. The 1 bibliophile (Dr. Fye’s “day job” is in educator. He was also a biblio- Shakespeare book was later stolen, maniac.2 Osler’s family and friends but half a century later Osler the Cardiovascular Division of the knew of his irrepressible passion for characterized this Browne volume as Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota). books; he made no attempt to hide the most precious book in his library.6 When it comes to bibliomania, Dr. his addiction. Indeed, his legacy is Osler was first exposed to scientific due in large part to his collecting books when, at sixteen, he entered Fye knows whereof he speaks, having habit. Osler’s bibliomania led him to Trinity College School in Weston, assembled a formidable historical- create one of the finest libraries of Ontario. The school’s founder and medical books ever assembled and to medical library of his own, and write more than one-hundred having abetted those similarly historical and biographical papers.3 afflicted over many years. This case His influence on medical book collectors, institutional libraries, and study of Osler’s chronic print- on the emerging field of medical addiction was to have appeared in the history was substantial, and it persists Newletter last year, prior to its to this day. For Osler, book collecting, historical research, and publication in The Persisting Osler III; writing were complementary pur- however, multiple moves and the suits. He collected works written by organizational disabilities of the authors in whom he had a special interest and sought books that were Editor caused a delay in its viewed as important historically— appearance until after The Persisting those that illustrated the history of medicine. Osler’s library, in turn, Osler III appeared. The Newletter stimulated him to study and write wishes to thank Krieger Publications about the lives and contributions of for permission to reprint Dr. Fye’s influential figures in the history of 4 medicine and science. essay. It is of some interest to trace the origins of Osler’s bibliomania. He grew up in a family that enjoyed reading and in a home filled with books. His father, a country parson, owned about 1500 volumes, mainly on theology.When Osler was seventeen, his oldest brother, Featherstone, encouraged his interest in rare books by giving him for Christmas a copy of J. Hain Friswell’s Varia: Readings from Rare Books.5 Shortly Oak-paneled library at 13 Norham Gardens in thereafter, young Osler bought his Oxford. • ·1· • warden, Reverend William A. living there. He acquired some both clinical and historical. Osler also “Father” Johnson, owned a library “special treasures,” as he called them, used his books when teaching. He that included books by Charles Lyell, including John Morgan’s very rare hoped to stimulate others to read the Charles Dana, William Carpenter, book A Discourse upon the Institution of older literature, to appreciate the and several other 19th century Medical Schools in America, published in classics of medicine, and to collect scientific authors. Osler enjoyed 1765.10 books and offprints. exploring Father Johnson’s books and Osler evolved gradually from an Osler purchased most of his books later remarked that “browsing in a ambitious young pathologist and from three traditional sources: …Osler large and varied library is the best aspiring doctor who wanted to have bookshops, catalogs, and auctions. came to view introduction to a general education.”7 a useful working library, into the But a powerful force that animates When he moved in with Dr. James world’s best known physician who bibliomaniacs—the fun of the hunt— books as a Bovell of Toronto in 1869, Osler assembled a spectacular book also led him to rummage through necessity, and discovered a vast new world of collection illustrating the history of bookstalls and seek out little known books—medical books with extra- medicine. The published catalogue of dealers.15 During his Baltimore years they would ordinary engravings and spellbinding his library, Bibliotheca Osleriana, reveals Osler spent most summers abroad, compete real life stories of diseases, doctors, much about Osler’s passion for books. and his letters reveal his passion for and death. He spent his evenings In his introduction he explained, “A bookhunting. When he visited successfully roaming and reading in Bovell’s library represents the mind of its Holland in 1901, Osler tried to be a for his time extensive library of medical and collector, his fancies and foibles, his tourist—until bibliomania over- scientific classics. This adolescent strength and weakness, his prejudices powered him. His wife Grace and his experience fueled Osler’s passion for and preferences.”11 As his career informed Harvey Cushing, “Dr. Osler income. books—his bibliomania. He wrote in unfolded, Osler gravitated toward has been really sightseeing on this 1914, “I date my mental downfall men and institutions that shared his trip and is very amusing. He looks at from that winter, upon which, passion for books and history. one picture in the collection and then however, I look back with unmixed If Osler’s interest in medical history flies to a book shop.”16 In another delight.”8 and biography took root in letter she told Cushing, “We really As a student at McGill Medical Philadelphia, it blossomed in had a delightful trip, though Drs. College between 1870 and 1872, Baltimore. A few months after the Dock and Osler became utterly Osler came under the influence of Dr. Johns Hopkins Hospital opened in disgusted at every place where old Palmer Howard, who also owned a 1889, Osler, Howard Kelly and books were not forthcoming and large medical library. He spent the William Welch launched the Johns promptly wanted to leave.”17 next two years studying abroad, Hopkins Historical Club. With John Bibliomaniacs, like other passionate where he was exposed to several large Shaw Billings of the Surgeon collectors, recognize this behavior. institutional libraries and to many General’s Library, a frequent visitor They often find traditional cultural antiquarian booksellers. Osler’s very to Johns Hopkins, they shared a attractions uninteresting because limited budget allowed him to common interest in the history of they represent a distraction and purchase very few books in Europe, medicine and rare medical books.12 consume valuable book-hunting mainly textbooks necessary for his Osler began to collect more time. While abroad Osler’s itinerary studies. Soon, however, Osler came aggressively as his income grew dra- was often defined by visits to to view books as a necessity, and they matically as a result of his successful bookshops. Other activities, beyond would compete successfully for his consultative practice and the royalties formal appearances at medical time and his income. Reflecting on from his medical textbook, first meetings and other professional his rich and varied life in 1901, he published in 1892. Indeed, in 1904 duties, were secondary. told an audience at the opening of his income was $47,280 (including George Dock described Osler’s the new building of the Boston his $5,000 salary from Johns visit to an Amsterdam shop that had Medical Library, “Books have been Hopkins, $5,200 in royalties from his a large selection of old medical my delight these thirty years, and popular textbook, $2,000 from books: from them I have received investments, and $35,000 from incalculable benefits.”9 private practice).13 W. O. would begin early in the When Osler moved to This huge income fueled Osler’s morning and continue all day. In Philadelphia in 1884, his bookish and bibliomania. He explained later that a large and light room they had historical interests were stimulated by he began to buy, “first, the early put out the Index Catalog [of the new friends and colleagues such as books and pamphlets relating to the Library of the Surgeon General’s S. Weir Mitchell and Howard A. profession in America; secondly, the Office] on a table, and on other Kelly and by the resources and original editions of the great writers tables, books that people had ambiance of the College of in science and in medicine; and gathered for him between visits…. Physicians of Philadelphia and its thirdly, the works of such general There was a pitcher of drinking library. Considering Philadelphia’s authors as Sir Thos. Browne, Milton, water. He would take off his coat, important role in the early history of Shelley, Keats, and others.”14 But roll up his sleeves, and work medicine in the United States, it is Osler did not buy old books just to systematically, putting the books not surprising that Osler began to have them. He used his growing he wanted on a pile, to be shipped collect medical Americana while library in his research and writing, later. In smaller shops he worked • ·2· less intensely, but probably not higher for some precious treasure auctions more actively. During his missing much of value.18 already in his possession. Of this Oxford years, Osler spent many final enthraldom the chief Mondays in London attending Osler spent the summer of 1903 in symptom, not mentioned indeed Sotheby’s book auctions. Europe. Writing to Cushing from by Dibdin, is the daily perusal of Osler worked hard to build his Paris, he boasted, “I have bagged two the catalogues of auction sales….

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