William Osler - Professor of Medicine, Family and Personal Life

Osler is known for his revolutionary changes in medical history. The great physicist in Osler brought about the modern day medical residency. By establishing the medical residency Osler insisted on the medical students – patient’s interaction. Osler’s main idea was to initiate a rapport between the treated and the treating doctors. He wanted students to learn, see and talk to patients in order to make brilliant findings in the field of medicine and treatment. Osler’s ideas later spread widely into the world. Osler had developed a successful sleep-in residency at John Hopkins where he had staff physicians living inside the Administration Building of the Hospital.

Other medical contribution of Osler includes clinical clerkship where third- and fourth-year students work with patients in various designated wards.

Osler is also known for being a prolific writer. He had many books which he willed away for being included in the Faculty of Medicine of McGill University. His treasure medical library is now a renowned McGill University's Osler Library of the History of Medicine which opened its operations in 1929.

Osler was also a notable speaker. He was a popular gerontology expert. Osler gave out a brilliant speech, "The Fixed Period" on 22 February 1905 churning controversy for certain words used surrounding old age. This famous speech by Osler was given before he became the Regius Professor of Medicine at Oxford. It became famous and talked about in press.

His work, 'The Principles and Practice of Medicine' became very famous and a hotcake for medical students. It was regarded as a key text not just for students but as a referral book for clinicians. The book got published in various languages and came out in several editions till 2001.

Humorous Side

William Osler was known for his humorous side. He loved leading a light hearted life full of jokes. He was the writer of many humorous pieces under the fictitious name of Egerton Yorrick Davis. He once played a great prank on the editors of the Philadelphia Medical News who published his report on the imaginary phenomenon of penis captivus, on December 13, 1884. This was a counter-letter to a report published by the newspaper three weeks back whose report was on the phenomenon of vaginismus.

Death

Osler died at the age of 70 on 29 December, 1919. He suffered during the Spanish influenza epidemic. He was survived by his wife Grace who died 9 years after his death.

Other Contributions

Osler lent his name to several diseases and symptoms. Several buildings bear Osler’s name. Some of the notable diseases’ names bearing the great physician’s name are - Osler's sign which is a blood pressure reading, Osler-Vaquez disease, Osler's filarial which a parasitic nematode, Osler’s triad which is association of pneumonia, endocarditis, and meningitis and several others.