OSLER LIBRARY NEWSLETTER McGill University Montreal, Canada No. 85-June 1997

“Stir Up the Brethren”: Love to Gardner & Alloway. Do A Frank and Forthright Osler Letter. attend the Society - you have This issue of the Newsletter intro- been a sinner in that matter. duces a new part-time casual r. Lewis Hersey of Repent before it is too late. London, Ontario, member of the Osler Library staff, recently presented to Yours ever Mrs. Pam Miller, (whose work is the Osler Library a two-page manuscript Wm Osler supported entirely out of the letter written by Library’s endowed funds). Mrs. To place this letter in context, it William Osler to Dr. Hersey’s great- Miller, a” archivist with consider- grandfather, Dr. George Wilkins, then would be helpful to identify the cast of Professor of Medical Jurisprudence at characters to whom Osler alludes. able experience in Canadian McGill. The letter is dated1 First, there is the recipient himself. historical documents, has brought November, 1884: Osler had just left Montreal to take up his new post on George Wilkins, unprecedented order and fresh the faculty of the University of 1842-1916, was ideas to our rich, but chaotic Pennsylvania. Osler’s warm and born in Ireland archives and manuscripts collec- constant friendships with his former and came to McGill colleagues, and his concern for Canada with tions, She has also revealed a his parents. He the well-being of his old university, are talent for exhibitions and well known. So is his penchant for attended the crisp and informal letters. This letter, Toronto research. Both are featured in this however, raised a few eyebrows Grammar School and graduated in issue. In the lead article, she amongst staff and researchers alike. medicine from the University of The following transcription explains Toronto in 1866. He did post-graduate describes a” unusual manuscript why: work in London, England and was Osler letter recently acquired by elected member of the Royal College the Library; later, she reports on 131 South 15th Street of Surgeons in 1871. That year he returned to Canada to practise in an exhibit she and Mrs. June Montreal, becoming Professor of l/11/84 Schachter prepared to honour Pathology and later Practical Dear Old Histolog Physiology at the University of McGill University’s 175th Bishop’s College. In 1882 he became anniversary. Wie gehts? Well I hope - Wish I Professor of Medical Jurisprudence was with you all You are such a and Lecturer in Osteology at McGill decent lot. Fellows here are very University. In 1876 he was appointed Mills with the famous British philoso- kind but they don’t come up to physician to the Montreal General pher perhaps alludes to Wesley Mills’ the Northern (Canadian) stan- Hospital, a position he held until 1900 devotion to pure science, and his dard. How is John Stuart Mills when he was placed on the consulting philosophical rigour and reserve. getting on? It will break my staff of the hospital. His other tasks Indeed, Osler seems to worry that heart if he does not succeed. Do included that of medical examiner for Mills’ somewhat brittle personality what you can for him. Stir up the the Sun Life Assurance Company of and lack of sympathy with the brethren about the additions to which from 1880 he was medical medical applications of physiology the buildings. You must make director. In 1911 he became president might hinder his career. In 1884 Mills matters lively for them. Get of the Association of Medical Directors became Lecturer and in 1886 Professor Roddick interested. Craik is the of Life Insurance. Dr. Wilkins was a of Physiology at only drag - he has no notion of member of the Montreal Medico- McGill. Born in the needs of anything but a stud Chirurgical Society, becoming its pres- Canada, he horse & a brood mare. How is ident in 1897. received his the missus? Keeping well I hope. B.A. from the I shall have a missus too before “John Stuart Mills” was Osler's University of long. These Yankee girls give a nickname for his own demonstrator in Toronto, and his chap no option Its come on physiology at McGill, T. Wesley Mills. M.D. from whether you want to or not. The playful identification of Wesley McGill in 1878. He studied at University College, meeting of that association outside reason, the letter has been deemed by London, with Sir John Burdon Britain, in Montreal in 1897. the Canadian Cultural Property Board Sanderson (as had Osler) and Sir E.A. to be of outstanding significance and Schafer. According to Osler, who “Craik” refers national importance. It provides a rare published his obituary in the British to Dr. Robert example of Osler at work, planning, Medical Journal in 1915, Mills orga- Craik, 1829- pleading, cajoling colleagues into nized his teaching on modern lines 1906. When action. “How is John Stuart Mills and was the first teacher of the subject Osler arrived at [Wesley Mills] getting on? It will break to have a thoroughly up-to-date and McGill in 1870, my heart if he does not succeed. DO well-equipped laboratory. Interested Robert Craik what you can for him. Stir up the in comparative physiology, Mills held the Chair brethren about the additions to the published, i.a., Textbook of Animal in Chemistry. Craik had graduated building. You must make matters Physiology, 1889, and Textbook of from McGill’s medical school in 1854 lively for them. Get Roddick inter- Comparative Physiology, 1890. He with high honours. His thesis was on ested”. Throughout his life Osler retired to London, England in 1910 infectious diseases. Before holding the worked tirelessly for the improvement and died there in 1915. Chair in Chemistry, he held the posi- of the institutions with which he had tions of House Surgeon at the been associated. Years after he left “Roddick” is Thomas George Montreal General Hospital, McGill he continued to press for the Roddick, 1846- Demonstrator in Anatomy, and appointment of the right ma” to the 1923, later Professor of Clinical Surgery. In the right place. He pleaded successfully Sir Thomas 1880s he was elected Dean and was with the Rockefeller Foundation for Roddick. named Professor of Hygiene and funding for the McGill Medical Roddick was Public Health. In 1895 Craik was Faculty. This letter is a working exam- born in granted an Honorary LL.D. He was ple of his methods. Mills was Osler’s Newfoundland, also a Governor of the University. His assistant and later Professor of graduated from obituary in the British Medical Journal Physiology at McGill. Clearly Osler the Normal states that he did little writing, his supported Mills’ up-to-date methods School in Truro, Nova Scotia, and in reputation being based on his teach- of teaching physiology as well as any 1868 obtained his medical degree from ing. building requirements to forward the McGill, where he won the Holmes cause of improving medical practice. Gold Medal. He became a member of “Gardner” refers Osler’s comment about Robert Craik, the resident staff at the Montreal to William “Craik is the only drag - he has no General Hospital and was appointed Gardner, 1842- notion of the needs of anything but a Demonstrator in Anatomy in 1874 at 1926, who stud horse & a brood mare.” provides McGill University. In 1876 he became obtained his new insight into Osler’s frank judge- Professor of Clinical Surgery and M.D.C.M. from ment of a colleague and his willing- Surgeon to the Montreal General McGill in 1866. ness to state plainly what he thought. Hospital. In 1877, after three months He became Pro- A staunch supporter of innovative spent in Edinburgh learning Lister’s fessor of Medical Jurisprudence at medical scientists, he had no time for antiseptic methods, he returned to McGill, the first Professor of Diseases others less devoted. At the time, Montreal where he introduced and of Women and Gynaecologist-in-Chief according to Dr. Francis Shepherd, Dr. promoted Lister's procedures. In 1885, of the Royal Victoria Hospital. Craik kept a stud of racing horses in during the North West Rebellion, Kentucky. (Reminiscences of Student Roddick was appointed Deputy “Alloway” refers Days and Dissecting Room, Montreal, Surgeon General and became the first to T.J. Alloway, 1919). Canadian director of medical services a close friend of in a military campaign. An inspired Osler and fellow Osler’s comment about “Yankee teacher, in 1890 Roddick was young professor women" if nothing else, testifies to his appointed Professor of Surgery at at the Faculty of eligibility among the female members McGill and later the first chief surgeon Medicine at of Philadelphia society His claim that of the Royal Victoria Hospital. From McGill. he “shall have a missus too before 1901-1908, he served as Dean of the long”, may be only a general reflection Faculty of Medicine. In 1912 he This letter has been assessed by the on their assertiveness, as there is no founded the Medical Council of current biographer of Sir William record of any serious courtship at this Canada which provided for a common Osler as being of unusual importance time. system of examinations for medical since few letters of this period of his students across Canada and he life survive, and almost none of this Osler’s comparison of his new became its first president. In 1914 he degree of frankness and intimacy. This friends to his former Montreal received a knighthood. For eight years is borne out by the Cushing biography colleagues, “Fellows here are very he was a member of parliament. As of Osler, the Cushing fonds assembled kind but they don’t come up to the president of the British Medical for the biography and by the holdings Northern (Canadian) standard”, gives Association, he organized the first of the Osler library where this type of us a” interesting insight into his view forthright assessment is rare. For this of himself as a Canadian at a time

2 when defining Canadian nationalism reproduced the portraits of Andrew William Osler, constantly described was a lively issue in Canadian intellec- Fernando Holmes and William him as an inspiring teacher. tual life. Robertson. Andrew Dickson Patterson painted William Caldwell and John This photograph is supplemented Finally, the admonition, “Do attend Stephenson. by Reminiscences of Student Days and the society - you have been a sinner in Dissecting Room, by Francis J. that matter. Repent before it is too A photograph of the first drawing Shepherd, privately printed, 1919, late.” probably refers to the Montreal of the Montreal General Hospital was Osler Library, (ms 364), which is Medico-Chirurgical Society, an early provided for the Osler Library by Les opened at a description of janitor Tom Montreal society for the discussion of Archives du Séminaire du Quebec Cook’s role in obtaining bodies for the medical matters and advancement of many years ago. The original water- study of anatomy. Fined frequently for medical and scientific knowledge, colour drawing which is part of the securing bodies illegally, Shepherd which Osler had revitalized on his Viger Album was done in 1826 by John was instrumental in framing new arrival in Montreal. This is another Poad Drake, painter, naval architect legislation permitting legal procure- example of his continued interest in and inventor, (believed to be a descen- ment of cadavers for study. the improvement of medical knowl- dant of Sir Francis Drake) who had edge through professional organiza- been in Montreal in 1820 while touring Francis J. Shepherd’s “Notes on tions, something he worked for until his large painting of Napoleon on Materia Medica, 1869-70", taken while the end of his days. board H.M.S. Bellerophon.(1) He a student at McGill, Osler Library, (ms returned to Montreal in 1826 when 276) and a selection of Tickets of Jacques Viger, later the first mayor of Admission for lectures at McGill Montreal, may, as was his custom, College by William Osler, Francis J. have asked Drake for a painting of the Shepherd and George Ross (ms 501, McGill’s Medical People, 1821-1996 hospital to add to his album. 377) dating about 1877-80, further evoke the influence of these men on A recent exhibition at the Osler Since teaching began at the McGill’s Faculty of Medicine. The Library marked McGill’s 175th anniver- Montreal General almost as soon as it lecturer’s signature on the back of sary by focusing on a few of the opened, a student admission card (MS each card indicated attendance at outstanding men and women who have 399/l) to the lectures of William lectures and successful completion of contributed to the eventful history of its Robertson for the year 1823 was requirements. Faculty of Medicine. The year 1996 was displayed. The student was John also the 175th anniversary of the McNaughton and the subject of the The post-mortem book of the Montreal General Hospital. Dr. E.H. lecture was Midwifery and Diseases of Montreal General Hospital for the Bensley’s book McGill Medical Women and Children. The card carries Year Ending May lst, 1877, opened at Luminaries, simplified our selection and a red wax seal. the case of a patient who had died as a copies of his bookappeared throughout result of an aneurism, described by the the exhibition. Manuscripts, The student notebooks featured in pathologist, Dr. Osler, provides tangi- photographs, photograph albums, the exhibition are rare archival items. ble evidence of research done at the student note-books and printed works Few medical archives are fortunate Montreal General which shaped formed the core of the exhibition. enough to possess such documents at Osler’s subsequent career. The leather- all. The Osler Library is especially bound volume with lined pages ready The Beginning lucky to own notebooks dating back to for the hand-written reports, recalls the late 18th century, lecture notes Osler’s description of the General Two cases were devoted to the four taken by students at Edinburgh during his student days. “When I founders,(all of whom studied medi- University and then handed on to began clinical work in 1870, the cine at the University of Edinburgh) other students. Montreal General Hospital was an old and to the McGill Medical Faculty’s coccus- and rat-ridden building, but early buildings. The first medical with two valuable assets for the school in Canada, the Montreal student - much acute disease and a Medical Institution, was set up in 1823 An enlargement of a small tintype group of keen teachers.“(2) and in 1829 it became the McGill of three great colleagues and charac- Medical Faculty. A photograph of each ters, Francis J. Shepherd, George Ross Student Life, c. 1900 of the founders, brief biographical and William Osler, done in about 1878, information and in the case of John provided the theme for the third case. Despite undoubted hard work Stephenson, his graduation thesis De It is preceded by a copy of a Notman evident in the display of a selection of Velosynthesi - a classic in the literature photo, one of many, of Dr. Robert exams collected by T.A. Malloch, of plastic surgery - represented these Palmer Howard (1823-1889), taken McGill’s medical students found ways four colourful characters. The original 1865. Dr. Howard began his distin- to relieve tension, for example, in cele- oil paintings of the founders were guished teaching career at McGill in brating the remarkable career of Tom destroyed in the fire which burned the 1852. Through teaching, writing and Cook, the famous janitor of the McGill Medical Building in 1907. Working personal example, he raised the stan- Medical Building, seen in a photo- from photographs, Robert Harris dards of medical education through- graph among the McGill medical out Canada. His renowned pupil, Sir students on the steps of the Medical

3 Building, 1907. Cook’s place in the the subject of pathology, she was relating to his province of New students’ hearts may be judged from inspired by Sir William Osler to Brunswick. an item found in Maude Abbott’s conduct research into congenital heart collection (ms 438/15), a programme disease. In 1936 she published her John McCrae, 1872-1918 for “The Grand 41st Anniversary of famous Atlas of Congenital Heart the Cook Régime”, 15 April, 1908 Disease. Her second achievement, Pathologist John McCrae is now which features a picture of Cook in again inspired by Osler, was to best known for his poem “In Flanders regal robes and regalia. develop the McGill Medical Museum Fields”, first published in Punch maga- into an important teaching and zine in 1915, three years before his What student has never scribbled research resource and to organize the death at the No. 3 Canadian General in the margin of his notebook in order International Association of Medical Hospital (McGill). Letters and to enliven a lecture? Neurologist F.H. Museums. Some of Osler’s and photographs, including a reproduc- McKay was no different when attend- Abbott’s pathological specimens may tion of the page on which “In Flanders ing lectures by Fields” first H.A. Lafleur, C.F. appeared, are dis- Martin and F.G. played. A photo- Finlay, for the years graph of John 1910-11. (ms 244). McCrae and his He illustrated setter Bonneau at Lafleur’s lecture on Boulogne about the respiratory 1916, is accompa- system with a nied by a letter buxom lady, scant- fmm John McCrae ily clad. Laennec’s to Mrs. Edward face (the inventor Archibald, No. 3 of the stethoscope) Canadian General peers out from Hospital, under his inven- Boulogne, 24 May, tion. Laennec is 1916, (ms 545/l/4) said to have rolled in which McRae up a sheet of paper relates how in order to avoid Bonneau came to the embarrassment the Hospital. “Mr. of auscultating just Bonfire (McRae’s such a well- horse) is very endowed female well, and has a patient. great friend, M. Bonneau, a setter This theme is completed by an still be seen in the Lyman Duff belonging originally to the concierge, undated photograph of students in the Medical Sciences Building. but now belonging to Bonfire. They dissecting room. The cadaver is are very pretty together, and are very surrounded by students displaying Three items illustrate Maude fond of one another.” In a later letter to anatomical specimens, including one Abbott’s tireless work on the Medical Dr. Edward Archibald, No. 3 student playing the flute on a bone. At Museum: Descriptive Cafaloguc of the Canadian General Hospital, Boulogne, the end of the exhibition, we will see a Medical Museum of McGill University, 27 May, 1917 (ms 545/l/4) McCrae somewhat sheepish-looking Wilder Part IV, Sect. 1, The Haemopoietic describes the current situation of the Penfield included in the same antics Organs, by Oskar C. Grüner, ed. by Hospital including games of golf. John while a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford. Maude Abbott, Oxford, Clarendon McCrae was a good friend of the Press, 1915; An Historical Sketch of the Archibald family and had lived in a Maude Elizabeth Seymour Abbott, Medical Faculty of McGill University, separate apartment in their house 1869-1940 Maude Abbott, reprinted from the from 1908 to 1914. Montreal Medical Journal, August, The Maude Abbott Fonds provides 1902. Opened at a photograph of the Boris Babkin, 1877-1950 the Library with a huge choice of Pathology Museum; Original patho- material, including some of her logical drawings in watercolour by Expelled from Russia in 1922 for displays assembled for medical John Clarence Webster of an aborted being unsympathetic to the Soviet conferences. Maude Abbott graduated foetus and a normal placenta, done in regime, physiologist Boris Babkin from McGill in Arts in 1890, with the Chicago about 1890.(Abbott ms arrived in 1928 at McGill where he third class of women to be admitted to 438/147). Dr. John Clarence Webster, became a renowned neurophysiolo- the University. Refused admission to 1863-1950, was a noted obstetrician gist. On his retirement from the McGill’s Medical Faculty, she obtained and gynaecologist who illustrated his Department of Physiology he was her medical degree from Bishop’s own publications. He was also a well- invited by Dr. Wilder Penfield of the Medical College in 1894. Attracted to known collector of historical material Montreal Neurological Institute to

4 continue his work there. In Russia, season in years with Charlie Drew the tion. He was adamant in his support Babkin had been a student of Nobel individual champion of the Senior of the benefits of learning more than Prize-winning physiologist Ivan Intercollegiate meet, held at Queen’s one language at the earliest stage of Pavlov and they continued to be University on October 24, 193O. child development, a belief which was friends after Babkin left. In gratitude influential in his final decision to to McGill, Babkin bequeathed to the Harold N. Segall, 1897-1990 settle with his family permanently in Osler Library manuscripts, reprints Montreal. His publication Langage et and photographs relating to Pavlov, Harold Segall was an outstanding mécanismes cérébraux, Les Presses (used in his biography of Pavlov), a clinical cardiologist and a man with a Universitaires de France, 1963, repre- small selection of which are displayed strong social conscience. A friend of sents these views. including a copy of the biography, Norman Bethune, he tried to alleviate published by the University of suffering by working to improve soci- Wilder Penfield’s photo album Chicago Press in 1949. ety through social action. He was a covers his Oxford student days, the founder of the Jewish General Hospital at Ris Orangis where he In 1929 Pavlov and his son spent a Hospital in Montreal and of the worked during World War I and his week with Babkin and his wife after Canadian Heart Association. After travels, 1913-1916. It is opened at a attending the XIII Medical graduating from McGill in Medicine page showing a group of students Physiological Congress in Boston. In in 1920, Segall worked with Maude holding bits of a human skeleton and This letter thanking them for their Abbott as an assistant curator at the on the other page, a photograph of hospitality,_dated Leningrad, 28__McGill Medical Museum. This experi- Abbotsford, the home of Sir Walter Sept.,1929, Pavlov wrote, “Yes, Boris ence led to his life-long interest in Scott. A photocopy of Wilder l’etmvitch, happily you and l have a cardiology and in the history of cardi- Penfield’s letter to Edward mighty talisman which protects us ology in Canada. Archibald, 18 Jan., 1929 contains from fate’s misfortunes. You in a Penfield’s drawing of the neurologi- strange land, and I in my country The display shows one of his pads cal institute which he was planning, would find life hard without Science. of charts invented and used by Dr. written on Biltmore Hotel, New York, Now before us we have a goal which Segall on which to record heart letterhead. lures us on always and allows us sounds while examining a patient, either to forget for a time or to be less first produced in 1937. He invented Finally, the large floor case located conscious of life’s blows.” (ms this system in order to provide a inside the Osler mom, was devoted 390/22/l/17) quick and effective method of record- to books about faculty members, ing sounds at the patient’s bedside. some of McGill’s female medical Charles R. Drew, 1904-1950 This invention was never widely graduates, McGill’s role in World adopted, but the Osler Library War I and publications about some of A black student from Washington possesses a chair, visible from the McGill’s medical families. No D.C., Drew received top marks at Francis Wing, the seat of which is display would have been complete, McGill and also distinguished himself covered in needlepoint patterned however, without the copy of Sir as a track star. He was active in the after the charts. Collected Reprints, William Osler’s influential The Medical Undergraduate Society and H.N. Segall, opened at “A Simple Principles and Practice of Medicine, a the McGill Medical Journal. He was a Method for Graphic Description of second printing made in 1892 after pioneer in the development and use of Cardiac Auscultatory Signs”, The the earlier printing of that same year blood plasma in transfusions. During American Heart Journal, April, 1933, had completely sold out. World War II he headed the “Blood for explains the purpose of Dr. Segall’s Britain” drive. As Professor and Head standardized system of recording Hopefully, the exhibition has drawn of Surgery at Howard University, and heart sounds. attention to some of the famous char- as a noted researcher, he struggled acters but lesser-known collections of against racism by insisting that the Wilder G. Penfield, 1891-1976 the Osler Library. In May, the exhibi- American Medical Association admit tion moved to the McLennan Library blacks as members. This finally In 1928, Wilder Penfield was to remind another part of the campus occurred in 1968, eighteen years after brought to Montreal at the suggestion of McGill’s vigorous medical heritage. Drew’s tragic death in a car accident. of Edward Archibald to specialize in A visiting professorship has recently neurosurgery. Penfield was accompa- Pam Miller been established to honour Drew’s nied by his associate Dr. William name at McGill. Cone. His work on epilepsy and his direction of the Montreal References The display includes a small bust of Neurological Institute, opened in Charles R. Drew in bronze by lnge 1934, made him a leader in his field. 1. Early Painters and Engravers in Hardison, done in 1967 and presented His insistence on collaborating with Canada, Russell Harper, University of by Dr. W.A. Stewart, and an Old colleagues at the Hôtel Dieu and the Toronto Press, 1970, p. 93-94. McGill, 1931, opened at the photo- Hôpital Notre Dame, ensured that the graph of McGill’s track team, Charles Institute would have the full support 2. The Life of Sir William Osler, R. Drew, Captain. The year 1930 had of the city and province on its way to Harvey Cushing, Oxford University been the team’s most successful establishing an international reputa- Press, 1940, p. 70.

5 A Pilgrimage to Osler’s Oxfordshire. “Ewelme church, with its low walls is a” old engraving whose squat tower, stands on the edge legend reads: Despite long familiarity with of a hill overlooking a valley Oxford and its environs, I had not, scooped out of the lower slopes This Palace derives its name until 1996, visited the Osler home at 13 of the Chilterns. Below lies the from the Number of Elmes that Norham Gardens, and the tiny village wee thatched village of some grew here and formerly was of Ewelme, where Osler, as Regius four hundred people, through call’d New Elm. Wm de la Pole Professor, was ex officio Master of the which runs a brook lined by a duke of Suffolk marrying Alice Almshouse. This omission I rectified watercress farm. To the visitor only daughter of Thos Chaucer in August last year. who may gain access to the had by her large Possessions hereabouts and built this house with Brick -- the Estate became Crown Land. K.H.VIII made this House an Honour” by bestowing on it certain Manours..

The story of the Duke of Suffolk is given in Shakespeare’s ‘Henry VI’, and his palace, like the de la Poles themselves, has long since disappeared; but the church, together with the cloistered court into which the Master’s rooms lookdown, remains intact and unchanged after nearly five centuries.“(2) (and fig. 2).

A letter written by Grace Osler on June 19th, 1905 (quoted by Cushing), (3) describes the Oslers’ first visit to Ewelme:

Fig. 1 “Saturday Willie and I paid a visit to the much-talked-of No. 13 Norham Gardens needs no Master’s apartments adjoining Almshouse, at Ewelme. It is a introduction to Oslerians. Just down the church and overlooking the most interesting place - four- the road from Lady Margaret Hall and picturesque and cloistered court tee” miles from here, two miles from the little River Cherwell where of ‘God’s House’ where the thir- back from the Thames. I” 1437 Revere fished, the house lies directly teen almsmen abide, there are the Countess of Suffolk, who behind the University Parks, whose many things of interest besides was I believe a granddaughter of fine trees lend a backdrop to the the architecture of a venerable Chaucer the Poet, gave three garden, familiar to us from snapshots building. For example, on the manors, the incomes from the of the Oslers and their friends. I did not take any photographs inside the house, but reproduced here is a picture of the History of Medicine Librarian clinging to the gatepost (fig.1) (note the absence of gates: the iron from these probably went to the 1939 war effort).

Ewelme is well worth the detour. Cushing explains the Ewelme connec- tion at the beginning of the second volume of the Life,(l) (where he takes up Osler’s story in early summer 1905). The income for Osler’s Regius Professorship (founded in 1546) was augmented in 1617 by James I when he annexed to the Chair the Mastership of the almshouse at Ewelme.

6 had been of the most formal and perfunctory character. But the 21st Regius in sequence was a man of a new order: he was fascinated with the serene beauty of the place, knew the pains and aches of the old inmates and was generally adored by the villagers, among whom he played the part of anti- quarian, physician, country gentleman, and lover of nature; enjoying everything and enjoyed by all. One day a picnic was given for the old men, with all the children of the village invited.”

As Cushing notes later, (5) the acquisition of a motor-car in 1908 made the trips out to the village easier for the Oslers. (fig.4) It is not difficult farms to support the alms-house needs no saying, even though for a modern visitor to guess how and thirteen men occupants - they must be punctilious about much they must have enjoyed these and built a chapel adjoining. We attending prayers while the visits, for even now the village is have not discovered when the Master was in residence, for he peaceful and relatively unspoiled. The Regius Professor was made had once before chided them in almshouse courtyard (bright with Master, but he has been so a long regard to what he considered a summer flowers in August 1996) time. There are rooms for the serious neglect, in view of all (fig.5) still looks as it does in our Master but they have been they owed to Alice of Suffolk. archival photograph of the Regius altered and look painfully Heretofore, with the possible Professor standing there with arms modern. The building nearly 500 exception of Acland, the connex- akimbo (fig.3). My wish to carry off a years old is very picturesque and ion of the Regius with this trophy in the shape of a Ewelme tea- looks its age. The men have two ancient house of benevolence, towel (an unassuming concession by rooms each and if married can confined to a few hasty visits, the locals to the tourist trade) took me have a wife there or a daughter to care for them. The surgeon who looks after them met us & we visited each member - it was most amusing. We carried tobacco and illustrated papers for each,and they were enchanted. I am sure Willie will make them all fond of him and be good to them. It is a long drive, and we had luncheon at the Inn and tea in our own sitting-room; and got back in time to go out to dine at New College with the Warden and Mrs. Spooner - the name seemed familiar.”

Not surprisingly, Osler took his new responsibilities as Master very seriously. In 1906, Cushing records(4):

“... during the last two weeks of July, for the first time in man’s memory the Master’s rooms were actually occupied by their rightful owner. That the thirteen aged almsmen were thrilled A recent award by the Hannah Institute for the History of Medicine within the framework of its Archives/Museum Studies Medical History Internship Program has enabled us to embark on a long- awaited project. Caroline Cholette, who has recently received her Certificat en Archivistique from the Université de Montréal, is spending 4 months at the Library, creating a computerized inventory of the Cushing papers for Osler’s Oxford period (1905-1919). Several C.V.s were submitted, and Caroline was chosen by the Hannah Institute.

Readers will recall Raghu Venugopal’s lively article in the June 1996 issue of the Newsletter, in which he describes his own work on and discoveries in the Cushing files.

The materials Harvey Cushing assembled when writing his biogra- phy The Life of Sir William Osler, Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1925, subse- into one of the little almshouse apart- 1..p.4, note2, quently deposited here, have never ments, which was as fresh as paint. 2.p.57. bee” fully indexed. Caroline’s project Inside the church the so” of the 3.p.6. will provide us with ready access to present incumbent told me their 4.p.56. the material covering that important family is related to the South African 5.p.134. fifteen-year period in Oxford. branch of the Osler family Swallows were busy around a nest in the church porch. Jerome K. Jerome (author of Three Men in a Boat) is buried in the little churchyard. Even the watercress beds mentioned by Cushing were still there in the village, although adver- tised as being For Sale - victims, it seems, of the strict European Community regulations now govern- ing production..

To round off this late-twentieth- century traveller’s tale, I mention in passing that a” excellent tea is to be found at Dorchester Abbey, not far from Ewelme and itself deserving of a visit.

June Schachter, History of Medicine Librarian

References:

All from Harvey Cushing’s Life of Sir William Osler. Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1925, v.2: Friends of the Osler Library t Robert F. Commito Anthony J. Hall

l Audrey Copping l Eve Osler Hampson The Library gratefully acknowl- Elizabeth S. Crahan t J.K. Hanaway edges the support it has received from t R.F.P. Cronin * Theodore J. Haywood Friends, both old and new, who have Richard A. Currie David L. Hedberg responded to the appeal for funds for the 1996-97 academic year. To date 204 Nicholas A. D’Amato Shigeaki Hinohara Friends have given a total of approxi- Lyubica Dabich *Perry Hookman mately $27,502. Most of the contribu- J.H. Darragh David C. Hull tions have come from Friends in Richard Davis t Brahm B. Hyams Canada and the United States of t Eric de Bellaigue t Mark Ivey, Jr. America. However, very welcome l A.F. de Schaepdryver Orville N. Jones contributions have also come from Andrew A. De Szalay Guy E. Joron several other continents. * George E. Delaney Harriet Joseph The names of Friends whose contri- Peter S.B. Digby Peter Kang butions are received after June 30, 1997 t A.R.C. Dobell * Stuart P. Kenning will be listed in the October issue of Alfred M. Donovan Ralph J. Kimmerly the Newsletter. D.E. Douglas l Kazuo Kinoshita † Keith Drummond t Lloyd W. Kitchens, Jr. The appeal for the 1997-98 acade- T.W. Dukes t I-Wen Ko mic year will be made in the October 1997 Newsletter. t James W. Dutton Timothy D. Koelmeyer Douglas Dykeman Edward Krawitt Andrew Allen t David G. Eastman Joseph J. Kristan † American Osler Society, Inc. t Martin Edelstein (in honour of Dr. t Roy B. Lacoursiere Eugene C. Anderson R.F.P. Cronin and Dr. Lawrence Scherr) l Donald G. Lawrence Gary F. Bacon t Martin Entin Michael Lefson lIan S. Bailey t William Feindel ‘Charles P. Leblond John C. Ball Anthony Feinstein t Joseph Lella l J.A. Barondess t David Fisman Robert Lemery Harold Bauman Jaime Flamenbaum t Robert H. Lennox Ronald Bayne Clare M. Flint t Philip W. Leon William K. Beatty A.A. Forder Michael J. Lepore Abel E. Berland R. Roy Forsey † Carwile LeRoy *Zlata Blazina Robert Fortuine l George W. Lilley t Michael Bliss Emmett Francoeur t Brian Little Georges Bordage Palmer H. Futcher l Lawrence D. Longo André Bouthillette W. Bruce Fye * Victor Lui *John W. Brennan t Richard R. Galpin Ian M. Macdonald l *IvanW. Brown Leonard & Esther Geller Douglas MacEwan l Rea Brown t Menard M. Gertler t C. Dunella MacLean * Charles S. Bryan t William C. Gibson l J. Peter MacLeod l Howard B. Burchell Howard W. Gillen A.E. Malloch J. Walker Butin t Susan A. Gillespie t Edward L. Margetts Robert Campbell Peter Gillet Raul Marino, Jr. * D.J.Canale l G.R. Girvan t H.H. Marsh Richard M. Caplan t Douglas M. Glasgow J.E. McAuley t John C. Carson Pierre Gloor t Estate of Eleanor McGarry t G.S.T. Cavanagh Alan B. Gold t John P. McGovern Centre Canadien d’Architechure l David S. Goldbloom Sonia McGowan * Françoise P. Chagnon t Richard L. Golden Bessie Mckinlay Donald A. Chambers Brian Gough t Peter & Audrey McLeod Bruce Charles * Peter E. Greig Wayne McShane Richard R. Cherry t John H. Greist t J.F. Meakins t L. Parker Chesney * Frances Groen Medizinhistorisches Institut der * Francis P. Chinard t Gmss Foundation Inc./Julia & Universität Bern ‘Jack Cohen Seymour Erich Meyerhoff lTom Middlebro Om P. Sharma Milwaukee Academy of Medicine t Bernard Shapiro Editorial Committee for the t R.E. Mitchell t Huntington Sheldon Newsletter: Faith Wallis, Editor; K. Jack Momose Seymour A. Siegal June Schachter, History of l J.R. Moore * Mark E. Silverman Sumner E. Moulton Mary Simon Medicine Librarian and Assistant B. Kichu Nair Asa J. Smith Editor; Wayne LeBel, Assistant * Earl F. Nation Kenneth C. Smith History of Medicine Librarian and John A. Newsom Ralph Speken Assistant Editor; Lily Szczygiel, t Granville H. Nickerson Edward A. Sprague Editorial Assistant. Jeremy Norman & Co., Inc. Donald E. Stanley Address: Osler Library of the l Richard T. O’Kell t Edward T. Stevens Marvin B. Padnick t Marvin J. Stone History of Medicine, McGill W. David Parsons t Joseph Stratford University, McIntyre Medical Robert Paulette Kenichi Takaya Sciences Building, 3655 * E.T. Peer * Michael L. Terrin Drummond Street, Montréal, t R.Z. Perkins t Samuel Tirer Québec, Canada, H3G 1Y6. John M. Pogue t Robert P. Turk Tel: (514) 398-4475 ext. 094162 Jean-Maurice Poitras t André Turmel Fax: (514) 398-5747 Raymond Prince Walter Van Emde Boas E-mail: [email protected] t Harold N. Rode A.H. van Soest Dante Romanó, Jr. Raghu Venugopal Legal Deposit 1/1997 l Robert S. Rothwell H.D. Vos Royal Australasian College of George C. Walsh ISSN 0085-4557 Physicians Wellcome Institute for the History of J.M. Ruckerbauer Medicine Frank H. Russ Jan Weryho

Kazutaka Sato l William A. Whitelaw J.W. Savacool EM. Wiegand

Todd L. Savitt l Benson R. Wilcox t H.J. Scott t Charles F. Wooley t Emil Seletz * Pierre M. Senécal † Patron Norman Shaftel * Supporting This 220 page 14%” x 14%” book combining Osler quotations with emotionally powerful black and white photographs captures the essence of modern-day medicine.

“Medicine is learned by “Happiness is the bedside and your not in the classroom. " profession. "

“To prevent disease, to relieve suffering and to heal the sick - this is our work. "

“If someone asked me what I do and why I do it, I don’t think you will find a better way of expressing that than Ted Grant’s photographs together with Sir William Osler’s quotations.” James W. Dutton, M.D., M.Sc., F.R.C.S.(C), F.A.C.S., F.I.C.S.

http://www.islandnet.com/~tedgrant