“... the current may turn towards the [medical] schools of the great nations of the south ... the Africander, the Australian, or the New Zealander may reach a development before which even ‘the glory that was Greece’ may pale”
The influence of Sir William Osler on medicine is still apparent nearly 100 years after his death. Here, I examine what he knew about Australia, which Australians he met and how this enriched their personal and professional lives, and his influence on Australian medicine in general.
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- 1. Cushing H. The life of Sir William Osler. 1st ed. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1925.
- 2. Osler W. Christmas and the microscope. Hardwicke’s Science-Gossip 1869; (50): 44.
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- 10. Osler W, McCrae T. Cancer of the stomach. Philadelphia: P Blakiston’s Son & Co, 1900.
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- 18. Osler W. Note on the relation of the capillary blood-vessels in purpura. Lancet 1909; 173: 1385-1386.
- 19. Golden RL, Bryan CS, Golden JT. William Osler’s the transatlantic voice: a philological study. Montreal: Osler Library, 2006.
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- 21. Power D, Spencer WG, Gask GE. Plarr’s lives of the Fellows of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. Bristol: John Wright & Sons Ltd, 1930.
- 22. Longo LD, Teigen PM, editors. “Dearest G ... Yours WO”: William Osler’s letters from Egypt to Grace Revere Osler. Montreal: Osler Library, 2002.
- 23. Osler W. The evolution of modern medicine: a series of lectures delivered at Yale University on the Silliman Foundation in April, 1913. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1921.
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I wish to sincerely thank Elizabeth Milford (Royal Australasian College of Surgeons), Pamela Miller (Osler Library), Liz Rouse (Royal Australasian College of Physicians), Kay Lee and Frances Miechels (Concord Hospital Medical Library) who contributed to this article with their willing help in searching for references and pictures. I acknowledge with gratitude the inspiration and guidance of Dr Charles George, Dr Richard Golden, Dr Oleg Preda, Professor Michael O’Rourke and Dr Jill Forrest.
None identified.