OSLER LIBRARY NEWSLETTER

McGill University, Montreal, Canada No. 70 -June 1992

TROTULA, OSLER AND FRANCIS nibus Mulierum Curandorum. This title was that exam? Silly thing! Chuck your head - freely translated by Elizabeth Mason-Hohl, you will never need it again”. sler’s propensity for of Los Angeles, as The Disease of Women by A short time later he wrote, ‘When are using nick-names, or Trotula of Salerno. Her book with this title, you to be married? Do not wait too long - trick-names, as terms published in 1940, was the first “true” Eng- please. No man is worth waiting for more of endearment is com- lish translation from the Latin edition of than six months”. mon knowledge. These 1547, printed by the Aldine Press of Venice. She soon married Geoffrey Jefferson, who begin with “The Dr. W.W. Francis, Osler's “nephew”, and Li- became a noted neurosurgeon of Manches- Widow Gross”, for his brarian of the Osler Library in Montreal, ter, and was later knighted. wife and “Isaac” (and was later responsible, through Dr. Myron A warm correspondence continued. Osler others) for his son, Prinzmetal, the Los Angeles cardiologist, sent her a carbon copy of his famous letter Revere. He used many for children of friends for seeing that Trotula's namesake received to Dr. Remsen, President of Johns Hopkins, and relatives, and, of course, E.Y.D., the a copy of Dr. Mason-Hohl’s translation. concerning full-time professors. pseudonym behind which he hid his alter When Osler’s Trotula was going up for Meantime, Dr. W.W. Francis and the Jef- ego. Colleagues were less often so addressed, her physiology examination Osler prepared fersons had become well acquainted and Students were frequently victimized. for her a fictitious test in physiology. He this relationship had some amusing twists Cosmo Gordon andyGeoffrey Keynes, designated it for ‘The Hilary Term, 1660”. after Francis returned to Montreal with the two Cambridge graduates who were work- He signed the examination ‘Thomas Willis library. His sense of humor was different but ing on a bibliography of Sir Thomas Browne ex Aede Christi”. Most Oslerians have seen just as acute as his forebear’s. An exchange when they first visited Osler in this connec- this reproduced in Cushing’s Life, volume 2, that took place at the time of Osler's centen- tion were dubbed by Osler, “Cosmas and Damian". Gordon, who went on to become a distinguished librarian, did not continue to use his nickname, while Keynes often signed himself "Damian”. Gordon and Keynes, like others, may not have been aware of the significance of the names at the beginning and were doubtless kept in the dark by the Professor. Osler, naturally, was quite familiar with the his- tory of these fourth century twin brothers who are the traditional patron saints of medicine, after St. Luke. They had been known as the ‘Moneyless Ones” because they refused compensation for their practice of medicine. They earned their sainthood by being beheaded, along with three brothers, for their Christian beliefs. Osler obviously had not chosen these names at random. The best known of his nick-names, out- side of E.Y.D. and those for his son, Revere, is probably ‘Trot&“."Trotula” Cushing gave full play to this in the Life. The lady so christened Andrew Keogh, Yale Librarian, Lady Jefferson (Trotula) , and Harvey Cushing in the garden at Yale. shortly after her arrival at Oxford was Miss Gertrude Flumerfelt, of Vancouver, British opposite page 203. She later wrote of it, “It ary is an example. It originated with Trotula. Columbia. She later wrote of this as follows: was to discourage me in my hopes of being It began with a letter signed, “Marlene ‘He gave me the name "Trotula" at my able to pass”. Osler's response to her by Yorrick Davis”, from ‘The Guildhall, Caugh- first meeting and never called me anything letter, after the examination, was, “I am glad nawaga, Quebec, Canada, 24th May, 1949”. else. His delight was great at the general to hear- though not surprised - that the mystification of all of my friends, including examiners were deceived. Considering how My Dear Sir, my medical friends, as to who or what Tro- little you know of the higher physiology, I am writing this in the Guildhall in the tula was, and it was months before a friend as illustrated by my paper, you must have peace that comes over me when I am in the managed to unearth her history for me.” had shocking duffers as examiners on that company of my grandfather’s mind, if not Of course, what she found out was that subject". of his body -surrounded by the famous Trotula was reputed to have been an elev- Three years later, when Trotula was about Egerton Yorrick Davis collection. As I look enth century female physician of Salerno. to go up for her final examinations, in 1912, at some of its treasures, the skull of Plato The original Trotula's professional fortunes Osler learned of her engagement. He wrote: had gone up and down but her funeral cor- "'Twas as I thought and knew! Hearty con- tege was alleged to have been two miles gratulations - only having known me, to de- The lead article in this issue of the Newsletter comes from the prolific pen of that many-sided Oslerian, long, so that her terminal popularity must cide on a Surgeon is a bit hard”. After Dr. Earl Nation. It was originally presented as a paper have been considerable. The surviving writ- inviting them to be married at 13 Norham before the American Osler Society at its spring ten work attributed to Trotula is De Passio- Gardens, he went on: ‘Why bother about meeting in San Diego.

The initial letter on this page is reproduced from Alexander Nesbitt (ed.) Decorative alphabets and initials, plate 119, Dover Publications, 1959. and the lower jaw of Julius Iroquois) outside the Guildhall Caesar with its beautifulold in happier days. I haven’t told bridgework, the bottleB o the the Great White Father (or he waters of Lethe a chip off might unknight you) but to Charon's oar, Aesculapius’s think that you and Dr. Osler’s therometer, as well as Dr. Tarantula (?) could be in Mont- Harvey’s blood-pressure appa- real, so near by, without letting ratus, and the thesis of Dr. Rad- me know or coming to see dear cliffe of Oxford on pneumococ- Grandfather’s collection and cal pneumonia (that they gave your own neglected but doting him the gold-head cane for), - Marlene Yorrick Davis.” And my eyes fill with tears as I in the same handwriting as the think how hard grandpa had signature [W.W.F.]: Dr. F. didn’t to work to get them. How Sir tell me. I saw your name in the William loved him, and how visitor's book at the Osler Li- they used to linger over these brary where I sometimes subli- old things. Dr. Osler said, I mate my ego in Grandad’s know, that he only met him medical papers which the once, and referred to him in a Government wouldn’t let us cursory way, “old rogue”, I A communication from "Marlene Yorrick Davis”, as fabricated by W.W. Francis for the keep here on the Reservation.” think he called him, but of benefit of "Trotula"'s husband, Sir Geoffrey Jefferson . On April 11, 1954 Francis course we in the family always wrote again, this time also to understood that they went off “Sir Geoffrey": “I’m flat on my on secret sprees together, like CORRESPONDENCE SPACE back with another coronary, the one at Atlantic City that I but surviving as usual.” He think Dr. Cushing must have BY DECOR, MONTREAL went on to answer questions written about in his book. about F.J. Shepherd who had My father was a steady-go- died in 1929. Francis referred ing man, a doctor too like his to him as "W.O.'s contempo- Dad. He always used to say rary and most intimate friend, that it was the bad example that probably the best teacher of his father Egerton and that man anatomy that this continent Dr. Osler set him that made has produced and at the same him keep to the narrow path. time a good surgeon and der- Seeing something in the pa- matologist, also a connoisseur pers about Sir William Osler's and collector of paintings.” being born one or two hundred Later in the same letter he ago made me write. I’m look- wrote: “It occurs to me that I ing at grand-father’s portrait have neglected to send Milady that hangs in this beautiful "Trotula" the pomes she rashly room -him, surrounded by the requested. When my Crebripa- Indians that he treated so kindly. So I send Six months later (7 Dec. 1949) he wrote Sir rous (I had to look that up in the Oxford my respects, because I know Grand-dad Geoffrey Jefferson about the letter. Trotula English Dictionary. It is from crebritude, would have wanted it. later noted at the head of this letter Francis’ meaning frequency or oftenness.) medical Yours truly, mistake in addressing it to her husband, daughter [Dr. Marian Francis Kelen] was Signed, Marlene Yorrick Davis whom Francis still thought to be the author about to produce her latest, I sent her this: (my mother went a lot to the pictures; I of the letter. don’t think that Dr. Osler would have liked “I’ve come to the shocking conclusion The first after two years was jolly; my name.) that I apparently did not acknowledge Mar- The next in one was supersonic; lene’s letter of May 24th! If so, many apolo- The third again in one was folly; This spoof was the work of "Trotula", gies. I made and distributed some copies, A fourth in one is just moronic. now Lady Jefferson, as attested by her note disclaiming the undivulged authorship at the top of her carbon copy, which says, which was none the less credited to me, par- ‘The hussy answered”, he continued: ‘This is my joke at centenary of Osler - ‘49 ticularly (ahem!) because John Fulton said, (copy sent to Willie Francis -- Osler Library.)” ‘it was so clever'." For medicine I begin to pine This was not the last of it. Francis thought Almost a year later, on May 1, 1950 Fran- After this one I’ll resign the letter came from Sir Geoffrey. Almost two cis wrote from the Osler Library to “Dear In favor of a concubine. months later, Dr. Francis made a copy of the Trotula”. He said, “This is E.Y.D.‘s pen, letter and added his chagrin and misunder- handed out of the show-case to inscribe a Dr. Francis’ letter goes on: “She was en- standing of the authorship at the top on the copy of the 1940 translation of your name- couraged by your good wife’s [Trotula] suc- Osler Library letterhead. He wrote: “A copy sake --- hence the familiarity!” He went on to cessful careers, and fondly hopes to be back of the subjoined comes to me today from explain its source as Myron Prinzmetal and in pediatrics by 1959. England with the harrowing revelation that to apologize for being ten years late in get- Yours cadiacly, Bill” Sir H.C. [Hugh Cairns, in Francis’ handwrit- ting it for her. He signed himself, ‘Yours E.Y. ing] of Oxford, attributes to ME the author- Dearly, W.W. Francis (‘Bill’).” The items quoted from in this article ship of the letter, if not the paternity of On New Year’s Day, 1951, Francis in- came to me through a New York rare book Marlene! I have on file the actual perpetra- dulged his sense of humor over the signa- dealer in 1962. Another batch which I dearly tor’s confession over his hitherto respect- ture of Marlene Yorrick Davis, with a wanted he let an “institution” see before able signature [Sir Geoffrey Jefferson!!, in picture-postcard. It showed an Indian man offering them to me. They kept them. He Francis’ hand and signed with ‘W.W.F.“] and maiden outside a shop in Caugh- would not divulge who it was. I would love “Hochelaga, near Caughnawaga, 20 July, nawaga, Quebec. On the card was typed: to know if any of you are privy to the 1949. W.W. Francis, E.Y. Davis Reliquarium.” “Me and my faithless ex-fiance (only l/32 information. FROM ONE HISTORIAN view. Of his numerous Publications, prob- like instances..." It would seem as well that TO ANOTHER: ably the most significant were his Rise and the Wrongs and the Oslers met during sum- GEORGE MACKINNON WRONG Fall of New France and A Canadian Manor and mer holid ays at Murray Bay (Pointe au Pic); WRITES TO HARVEY CUSHING its Seigneurs. Interestingly, much of his writ- the latter part of, Wrong's letter tells of a ing is based on secondary sources; hence he fortnight spent recentl in that village, and Some months ago, the Osler Library re- might have been less shocked at Cushing’s relates the doings of wL t are evidently mu- ceived a visit from Dr. G. Hammond of the confession concerning the paucity of his pri- tual acquaintances. ‘You and Sir William,” Cadham Provincial Laboratory in Win- mary sources that one might expect. More he says, “are often talked about and I saw nipeg, Manitoba. Dr. Hammond’s immedi- over, Wrongs style was self-consciously the “Life” in a number of the houses.” He ate purpose was to pursue his research on literary, and he leaned more towards heroic speaks as well of entertaining some young the historical bibliography of infectious dis- exploits and battles than economic or social students from Trinity College School, in- ease, but in the course ofour conversation, analyses. We know that he found both cluding Palmer Howard. he revealed that he had recently purchased Cushing's superb prose and his celebratory These letters from one historian to, and a second-hand copy of Cushing’s Life of Sir aims in the Life highly commendable, for he about, another, shed fresh light on the ad- William Osler, in which he had discovered a said as much in a letter to Lady Osler now miring, indeed passionate response of many letter from Cushing himself. The letter was preserved in the Osler Library Archives and readers --- not all of them physicians ----- to addressed to George Mackinnon Wrong Manuscripts Acc. 326. This letter is interest- Cushing's biography. What is intriguing is (1860-1948), then professor of history at the ing as well in that it reveals something that Cushing’s first audience seems hardly University of Toronto, who evidently had about Wrong’s friendship with Osler, to to have been able to separate the biography written to Cushing to express his admira- which the Cushing letter alludes. from its subject. The first sentence of tion for the biography. In his reply, Cushing Wrong’s letter to Lady Osler is especially spoke as one historian to another, and re- Durham House telling in this respect, as it slides from praise vealed a rather surprising difficultly he had near Port Hope of Cushing's Life into praise of Osler’s life. I encountered in preparing the Life. Ontario have often contended that Cushing wrote Sept. 22, 1925 his Life, not for posterity, but for the people Dear Mr. Wrong, who had known and loved Osler duringhis Nothing could have pleased me more My Dear Lady Osler: lifetime. If this hypothesis is valid ------and than your note - the more so in coming A letter to you has long been in my mind the reaction of George Mackinnon Wrong from a Professor of History for I assume you for I have wished to tell you how much we would appear to support it -- then the dis- bear the well known name of George Mac- have delighted in the “Life” and how viv- appearance of the last representatives of this kinnon. idly we see your part in helping to achieve generation would signal the need for a new It is good of you to have spoken so highly the wonderful work which you and Sir Wil- Life of Osler. of the ‘Osler’ and I am glad you did not find liam accomplished. It is an inspiring story. it too long -as many of the English review- At first the two volumes looked formidable Faith Wallis ers have done. but my wife said to me yesterday that she I wish that I had known of your friendship would not have had them shorter by one with Osler for I would have written you in word. Neither has she nor have I any tech- TWO OUTSTANDING GIFTS TO the hope of getting letters I might use. nical knowledge, yet we read the volumes THE OSLER LIBRARY As a matter of fact I had very poor pick- from cover to cover and would gladly have ing -- far less good than the final story had them longer. The volumes will have an Recently, two Friends of the Osler Library would seem to show. A biographer I found enduring influence. I believe that centuries have donated important rare books to our has to extract letters by force. But then I from now this story of a great physician will collection Dr. H. Rocke Robertson, himself found out many other things during the be retold over and over again and will be a a surgeon, gave us a French translation of course of my four years job. It gave me a far source of inspiration to generations unborn. the famous surgical compendium of Lorenz better education than four years as an un- Do not think that I am pitching this in too Heister (1683-1758): Institutions de chirurgie, dergraduate at Yale. Could they have as high a key. The combination of nobility and où l'on traite dans un ordre clair et nouveau... les good a subject I would recommend the simplicity of character with scientific in- appareils et les bandages. (Paris: Didot, 1771). process to anyone in search of an education. sight and great achievement is rare. I doubt In two volumes, and illustrated with en- It was most kind of you to have written whether any other physician who ever lived gravings of Heister's rather Baroque instru- me such an encouraging letter about the book. was so much beloved by so many people. ments and bandaging techniques, it forms a Very sincerely yours He was known intimately in three countries valuable addition to our collection of the Harvey Cushing which is in itself, I fancy, unique. A couple works of this influential practitioner. Sept. 24, 1925 of months ago the little society of Physicians When Dr. Edward Stevens of Kenosha, in this and the adjoining county (Northum- Wisconsin, received our “Adopt a Book” ap- That Cushing had difficulty in finding berland and Durham) asked me to give an peal, he was immediately attracted to the primary materials for his encyclopaedic bi- address at their annual meeting. It hardly volume of Hardwick's Science Gossip contain- ography is, as he himself points out, cer- seemed to be in my line, but I realized that ing Osler's first publication ---- not because tainly not obvious to the reader. And I had a mine in the “Life” and I spoke to he wished to adopt it, but because he had Cushing's art, which fleshed out the meagre them for an hour on the beloved physician recently seen a pristine copy advertised in a “pickings” into an ample and richly tex- and his principles of conduct. These country rare book dealer’s catalogue. He purchased tured story, was definitely one which Wrong doctors read but little, but I hope I sent some the volume and donated it to the Library It himself appreciated and practiced as a his- of them to the book and they listened now keeps company with our original, but torian. Wrong can justly be called Canada’s eagerly when I spoke of Sir William’s stern battered Gossip, which will be “retired” in first professional academic historian. Born condemnation of professional gossip and favour of Dr. Stevens’ sturdier tome. This in Elgin County, Canada West and educated backbiting.... alternate conservation strategy provides a at Wycliffe and University Colleges in the “reading copy” of a seriously damaged University of Toronto, he taught history at Apparently Osler had cared for Wrong’s book, while the original book is retained, that University from 1892 to 1927. Wrong son Murray (1889-1928), also a historian, for but exempted from active use. We thank Dr. was one of the founders of the Champlain he goes on to say that “we probably owed Stevens for his imaginative and very practi- Society, and in 1897 launched the Review of Murray’s life to Sir William and I suppose cal intiative. Historical Publications Relating to Canada, af- his care and kindness, out of friendship only terwards renamed Canadian Historical Re- in this instance represent one of a thousand Faith Wallis

3 OSLER LIBRARY FELLOWS DR FAITH WALLIS TAKES FRIENDS OF FOR 1992 UP A NEW POST THE OSLER LIBRARY

The Osler Library Fellowships Commit- Dr Faith Wallis, the Osler Librarian, has The appeal to the Friends for the 1991-92 tee had announced the winners of the 1992 resigned from her position as administra- academic year concluded at the end of May. Osler Library Fellowships. The Research tive head of the Osler Library, effective May The Library gratefully acknowledges the Fellowship has been awarded to Prof. An- 31. She has been offered, and has accepted, support it has received from Friends, both dré Paradis of the Centre d'études a tenure-track positionnas professor of the old and new, who have responded to the québécoises of the Université de Québec à history of medicine in the Department of appeal for funds this year. Over the year, 274 Trois-Rivière. Prof. Paradis is studying the Humanities and Social Studies in Medicine Friends have given a total of approximately beginnings of the organization of psychiat- at McGill, with a cross-appointment to the $22,015. Most of the contributions have ric practice in Quebec from 1890 to 1920, Department of History Her new office is come from Friends in Canada and the and in particular, the reception of psychiat- just off the Mezzanine -or as she puts it, “in United States of America. However, very ric ideas from Europe and America into the the attic of the Osler Library”. welcome contributions have come also from Quebec milieu. Who were the transmitters Dr Wallis came to the Osler Library in Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Germany, of these ideas? What concepts did they im- January 1985 as Assistant History of Medi- Japan, Switzerland, and United Kingdom. port, and how were they assimilated? Prof. cine Librarian. In March 1986 she was ap- The names of Friends whose contribu- Paradis will be exploring these questions pointed History of Medicine Librarian, and tions were received after January 31, 1992 through the medium of contemporary per- are listed below. The appeal for the 1992-93 sonal narratives, as well as the professional academic year will be made in the October periodical literature. Prof. Paradis has al- Newsletter. ready published numerous interpretive studies and bibliographic guides about his- † American Osler Society toric Quebec medicine. * André Bouthillette David Fisman, a second year medical stu- † John Brennan dent at the University of Western Ontario, is † Rea A. Brown the winner of this year’s Student Fellow- Fernande K. Cantero ship. His latent interest in medical history † Earl M. Cooperman was roused to active life by a visit to the † Audrey Copping Osler Library last summer. “Creative snoop- Martin M. Cummings ing” in the Library resulted in an essay on † Anthony R. Dobell ‘The Symbolism of the Serpent and Staff’. Donald E. Douglas At the same time, he discovered Thomas † William R. W. Fitz Brien’s The Pisse Prophet, published in Lon- Esther and Leonard Geller don in 1658 (B.O. 2125), a diatribe against † William C. Gibson dishonesty in contemporary medical prac- † Douglas Glasgow tice, particularly in uroscopy. Mr. Fisman * Pierre Gloor proposes to spend a month at the Library * Alan B. Gold studying the state of diagnosis, medical Paul M. Gross practice, and medical politics in Stuart Eng- * Rosemary Haddad land which forms the context of Brien’s ex- * K. Iwama posé. † John T. Kelsall The Osler Library Fellowships are Dr. Faith Wallis, Osler Librarian † Holly Korda awarded annually, and are supported by the * Michael J. Lepore endowment fund of the Class of Medicine in November 1990 received the title of Osler * Jennifer J. Marler 1936, and by the Faculty of Medicine. The Librarian from the Board of Curators. Since † J. F. Meakins competition for 1993 will close on Novem- 1986 she has held teaching appointments in † Campbell R. Osler ber 30, 1992. Further information on appli- the Department of Humanities and Social Richard Osler cation procedures can be obtained by Studies in Medicine and in the Department * Edgar T. Peer writing to the Library. of History, and has published studies on † Robert Z Perkins medieval science. Though deeply commit- † Charles G. Roland Faith Wallis ted to her anomalous role as scholar-librar- * Thomas M. Sinclair ian, she has found the scholar side of the William P. Stoneman equation pulling her ever more strongly † Joseph Stratford into the academic sector. She looks forward † Michael R Terrin to using the Library which she has been * Barbara R. Tunis privileged to direct for eight years, and to writing about its books and manuscripts. * Supporting Teaching and research will now occupy † Patron most her time, but she will continue to edit the Osler Library Newsletter, and to assist scholars and Oslerians in using the Li- brary's resources. Editorial Committee for the Newsletter: A search committee has been struck to Faith Wallis, Osler Librarian and Edi- search for a successor to Dr WaIlis. In the tor; Edward H. Bensley, Honorary Osler meantime, Mr. David Crawford, Life Sci- Librarian and Consulting Editor; Wayne ences Area Librarian, will serve as Acting LeBel, Assistant History of Medicine Li- History of Medicine Librarian. brarian and Assistant Editor; Lily Szczy- giel, Editorial Assistant.

Legal Deposit 2/1992 ISSN 0085-4557

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