Description:

William Osler
n.p., n.d.
William Osler Signed "The Mystery & Romance of Alchemy & Pharmacy"
SB
A hardcover copy of an interdisciplinary study of medicine, folk healing, alchemy, and the black arts, initialed and inscribed by Sir William Osler (1849-1919), the celebrated Canadian doctor often referred to as the Father of Modern Medicine, as: "Frick Library / from W.O." on one of the front loose endpapers. N.d., n.p. C.J.S. Thompson, "The Mystery and Romance of Alchemy and Pharmacy" (London: The Scientific Press, Limited, 1897). A bookplate from the "Charles Frick Library" is affixed to the front pastedown endpaper, with the donor identified in pen as "Dr. Wm Osler." Brown cloth-covered boards, the front cover embossed with a vignette showing a medieval alchemist surrounded by a skull, owl, flasks and alembic, and mortar and pestle. The spine is gilt-embossed, with a library call number inscribed on the base. Some looseness and fragility of the binding resulting in some minor internal splits. Mostly even toning inside with scattered smudges and margin pencil marks. The first few front loose endpapers are cropped. Minor wear and shelf rubbing to the covers and spine. Else very good. Illustrated with a handful of engravings reproduced from Early Modern examples. vii-xv; 1-335. 5.5" x 8" x 1.5." 8vo.

Charles J.S. Thompson (1862-1943) was a British physician, historian of medicine, and curator at the Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine. He published nearly 20 titles from the 1890s-1940s, all relating to the history of medicine with an emphasis on pharmacology and toxicology. Thompson's "The Mystery and Romance of Alchemy and Pharmacy" discusses the topic of medicine from different historical, cultural, and literary perspectives, with such chapter titles as: Chapter IV, "The Fathers of Medicine"; Chapter XI, "Superstition and its Influence on Medicine"; Chapter XV, "Monk Physicians - Itinerant Doctors - Surgery in the Middle Ages"; and Chapter XVII, "Mummies and their Use in Medicine - The Unicorn."

The Charles Frick Collection of the Library of the Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of Maryland was established in 1896 in memory of Dr. Charles Frick (1823-1860), a Baltimore native and doctor who died of diphtheria.

Dr. William Osler revolutionized the 19th C. study and practice of medicine by fundamentally changing how it was taught. Osler was one of the founding members of the Association of American Physicians and a founding professor of Johns Hopkins Hospital. One of the first doctors to lobby for residency training programs, Osler understood the importance of learning through hands-on experience, repetition, and practice. By emphasizing speaking to and listening to the patient, Osler advanced our understanding of pathology by underscoring the importance of medical history in positing a diagnosis. In this way, he also advocated for the most fundamental patient rights and reshaped the relationship between doctor and patient.

Osler's interest in teaching medicine inspired him to collect an enormous personal library of books related to medicine and the history of medicine. Osler willed his personal library to his alma mater, McGill University; the collection became the core of the Osler Library of the History of Medicine.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 5.5" x 8" x 1.5"
  • Medium: SB

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