Page 19 - Boca Club News - September '23

Boca Club News, Page 19
Medical Matters:

Remembering Sir William Osler (Part Two)

By Richard Nagler, M.D., a member that makes one antagonistic to everything foreign, that It’s unfortunate that this is an ongoing problem today as
of Broken Sound Club and retired subordinates the race to nation, forgetting the highest doctors must see far more patients in less time in order to
physician. After graduating from claims of human brotherhood.” This is dramatically maintain income.
the University of Pennsylvania revealed in his attitude towards Jews and women. “Punctuality is the prime essential of a physician.
and New York University’s School At that time in history there was blatant anti-Semitism If invariably on time, he will succeed in the face of
of Medicine, Dr. Nagler served at Johns Hopkins, with an affirmative action policy that professional mediocrity.” We all know that there is
his internship and residency at resulted in no more than 7% of the medical students to come nothing more exasperating than sitting for a long time
Baltimore City Hospital and Johns from Jewish backgrounds. Contrary to his contemporaries, in the doctor’s waiting room beyond one’s scheduled
Hopkins. He followed that with a he said, “I have always had a warm affection for my Jewish appointment.
Fellowship in Gastroenterology at Yale University School students, and it has been one of the special pleasures of After his death in 1919 from pneumonia, it was said of
of Medicine and was then Chief of Gastroenterology my life the friendships I have made with them. Their Osler that he was a saint. He was eulogized as the greatest
at Fitzimmons General Army Hospital in Denver. He success has always been a great gratification to me, and physician of his time, an unusually gifted and versatile man
returned to the Yale Medical School for one year as an it has been the just reward of earnestness and tenacity of and everyone fortunate to have been brought in contact
Assistant Professor of Medicine before opening his own purpose and devotion to high ideals in science, and I might with him shared a great feeling of devotion, for he gave
successful private practice in Internal Medicine and add a dedication of themselves as practitioners to promote of himself so much to all. He had unsurpassed clinical
Gastroenterology. During that time, he also served for the welfare of their patients. The Jews have a long and ability, the widest knowledge of medicine and the deepest
ten years as Chief of Medicine at Huntington Hospital in honorable record and among no people is all that is best interest in everything human, for which he was held in
Huntington, N.Y. in our science and art more warmly appreciated.” Sadly, the highest regard by his colleagues. His enthusiasm for
This is the second of my two columns devoted to Sir his voice of acceptance of Jews was not heeded at the his calling was boundless. He was sought far and wide by
William Osler, the doctor who influenced and inspired time, but long after his death Jews were finally admitted patients and by fellow physicians, not only because of his
my own medical career. The first column appeared in the to medical school based on merit and not on any advantage great wisdom, but because of his generosity, sympathy and
August issue of Boca Club News. gained from just being a minority. personal charm.
Osler maintained that we all eat too much. “The platter Women were similarly discriminated against with He left behind a body of works encompassing writings
kills more than the sword. The glutton digs his own grave equally restrictive quotas. In general, about women he was in medical science and his philosophy of life, both
with his teeth.” He knew that only a small portion of what more ambivalent. To his students he said, “Women always personal and professional. He advanced the frontiers
we eat nourishes us, while the rest goes to waste. He said fool men, but other women only sometimes. He said, of medical education and was a unifying force in the
that “obesity (40% of adults in the USA are obese) and “Avoid wine and women. Choose a freckled-faced girl as a medical profession. He was accorded friendship, devotion
poor nutrition often begins in children with bad eating wife as they are invariably more amiable.” However, with and disciples. However, the binding force, the cement
habits, carelessness and lack of parental control. Increased regard to women in medicine he was quite different. He of the structure of his greatness was his humanism with
obesity in post-menopausal women is due to overeating, stated, “If any woman feels the medical profession is her compassion, understanding and the love of his fellow man.
not hormonal changes.” Osler advocated that rest, food, vocation, no obstacle should be placed in the way of her Ralph Waldo Emerson eloquently wrote of him:
fresh air and exercise taken in moderation, especially by obtaining the best possible medical education and every “To laugh often and love much, to win the respect of
middle-aged individuals and beyond, were the ways to facility offered to her so that as a practitioner she should intelligent persons and the affection of children, to earn the
maintain good health. have a fair start in the race. Stars of the first magnitude are approbation of honest citizens and endure the betrayal of
He believed that improved sanitation, along with the rare, but that such a one will rise among women physicians false friends, to find the best in others and to give of one’s
discovery of vaccines and the principles of asepsis, had a I have no doubt, and let us be thankful that when she comes self. To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy
major impact on infectious diseases. He maintained that along she will not have to waste her precious energies in child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition, to
soap and water are the best disinfectants. “It is germs that the worry of a struggle for recognition.” have played and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with
cause disease, not drafts or exposure to the elements.” That, too, was not accepted by the medical profession exultation, to know that even one life has breathed easier
His insights into heart disease are a remarkable example until more recently. As a matter of fact, in 1952 when I because you have lived–this is to have succeeded.”
of his clinical expertise. “The condition of modern life entered medical school there were only five women in a
favors arteriosclerosis, as the keen sharp business or class of 110. Today, at least 50% of medical students are
professional man year in and year out giving his energies women. Fall is Coming!
no rest, leading a life of high pressure although a teetotaler A few more aphorisms attributed to Osler: “Can
and even temperate in diet may have so driven his machine anything be more doleful than a procession of four or
that by the age of 50 it is only fit to be scrapped.” He more doctors into a sick man’s room, especially when they
gave the classical description of the clinical features of whisper to each other as they pore over the chart?” First Day of Autumn
coronary artery disease with angina as an agonizing pain “Beware of men who call you doc. They rarely pay
in the center of the chest with terrible substernal pressure their bills.” Actually, in modern society the term doc is September 23
radiating to the left arm with a feeling of impending death. usually meant as a term of respect.
Considering the mores of his time, he was against what “The physician who keeps his eye on his watch is
he called “the cursed spirit of intolerance and prejudice rarely successful. Give the time needed for the patient.”
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