Scarce First Edition of Dr. William Osler’s “Science and War, an Address Delivered at the University of Leeds Medical School”, Signed by Osler

Dr. William Osler is often described as the “Father of Modern Medicine”. He created the first residency program for specialty training of physicians, and was the first to bring medical students out of the lecture hall for bedside clinical training. He co-founded Johns Hopkins Hospital and medical school, and was author of the landmark work, “The Principles and Practice of Medicine”. He also wrote and edited medical reports for Johns Hopkins. Osler, a Canadian, also had close connections in England, and he was created a baronet by King George V in 1911 in recognition of his many contributions to medicine. He served as Walt Whitman’s physician during the 1880s.

This pamphlet “Science and War, an Address Delivered at the University of Leeds Medical School”, first edition, given on October 1, 1915. and published in 1915 at Oxford by Clarendon Press. This copy is signed “With love and greetings from William Osler.” The recipient was the wife of his childhood friend, Charles Locke. Signed first editions of this work are very uncommon.

Written during World War I, the pamphlet includes a description of some of what Osler saw during his visit to France in September 1915. Dr. Harvey Cushing describes this wartime visit in detail and quotes from letters that Osler wrote during the trip. The purpose of his trip to the war torn continent was to visit the McGill Hospital Unit. Osler wrote a long letter on September 7, 1915: “I crossed yesterday from Folkestone to Boulogne as they sent word the Hospital was full & in good working order…. Col. [H.S.] Birkett, Major [Campbell] Howard, Billy Francis [a nephew] & Revere met me on the dock. R. looking so well & brown. The McGill unit is stationed at Camiers about twelve miles south of Boulogne.” Osler delivered this address at the University of Leeds Medical School less than a month after his return to England. It includes sections devoted to war and history, scientific methods of destruction, the submarine, the modern battleship, the enormous power of present-day artillery, irrepressible gas, aircraft, care of the wounded in Napoleon’s time and today, a hospital camp, reception of a convoy of wounded, progress of the wounded, the prevention of disease, the treatment of wounds, among other topics.