OSLER LIBRARY NEWSLETTERMcGill University, Montreal, Canada No. 66- February 1991

Osler's Use of "Ike" for Revere

n my paper on Revere,given at the 1980meeting of the Ameri-can Osler Society, I at-tributed Osler's use of"Ike" as a contractionof Izaak Walton to Re-vere's passion for fish-

ing.I Apparently, at the time, other Osleriansalso thought so and no one questioned it.Cushing (p. 645) cites Osler's first use of"Isaac Walton" (sic) in several handwrittenletters sent in the summer of 1904 from Mur-ray Bay, Canada, when Revere was age 8,mentioning for the first time the boy's inter-est in trout fishing, but not mentioning himby name.2 He used the Biblical spelling Isaac.This fascination with fishing continued life-long as Revere's greatest hobby and recrea-tion. I found no acknowledgement by Revereof Osler's use of the nickname before then.As he grew up, Revere often signed himself"Disciple of Izaak Walton," began to collecthis books and included the phrase in abbre-viated form in his book plate. It was includedin my address on the Tudor and Stuart Clubof Johns Hopkins University given at the1983 American Osler Society meeting.3 Re-vere always used Walton's spelling of Izaak.It would appear he accepted the connectionwith fishing.

In 1985, Alastair Robb-Smith, after read-ing my 1980 paper, raised the question ofearlier uses of "Ike" that would require adifferent derivation. He recalls that in 1984or '85 he read an article or book that sug-gested it was inspired by the Biblical Isaac,the son of Abraham and Sarah, but he can-not recall or find the reference.4 Earl Nation,in his Dock lecture of 1965, had mentionedhearing of the possibility of a Biblical origin.He gave no reference, but recalls seeing oneto Abraham and Isaac years before, thoughhe cannot locate it.4 Inquiries to other Osle-rians brought recollections that Osler hadearlier used the term, obviously referring toRevere but not mentioning him by name.Cushing (p. 422) states that by 1896, follow-ing Revere's birth in 1895, Osler, in letters tofriends, began to use "Ike" along with othernicknames such as Tommy, Isaac, or Edger-ton. Edward Bensley, reviewing Cushing'smanuscript files for 1895 and '96 in the Os-ler Library4, found the nickname usuallyused was Edgerton or some slight variationof it. The exception was one letter in July1896 in which Osler referred to Revere, thenseven months old, as "Ike". The files gaveno explanations as to why Osler used the

term and I have found none. Cushing (p.515) quotes a letter to Osler's sister Mrs.Gwyn (Chattie) about February 1900, whenRevere was age four, referring to "Ike" longbefore the fishing trip of 1904.

The day after my inquiry in 1985, Bensleymet with Harold Segall who had long beeninterested in Osler.4 They discussed thestory in Genesis, Chapters 17-21, and con-cluded that the Biblical derivation is the cor-rect one. Osler's background as the son ofan Anglican Missionary to Canada, his ownearly university religious training before heswitched to medicine, and his use of Biblicalreferences in his writings over the years allmake it reasonable. Osler was 46 and Grace41 when Revere was born, so an allusion toa child born in old age is conceivable. Ac-cording to the Bible, Abraham was 100 andSarah 91 when Isaac was born. The actualages given obviously are in error, but doconfirm that both were up in years beforehaving their son. Sarah had been barren, butGod had promised Abraham he would havea child even though she was now old. Shenamed him Isaac from the verb "he laughs"which she does over his birth. Osler wasoverjoyed at having a fine, happy son afterthe death of his and Grace's first.

The evidence clearly indicates the Biblicalderivation though father and son continuedto use their own interpretations of its origin.

References1. Harrell, G. T. "The OsIers' Son-

Revere". Bull. Hist. Med. 54: 561-71, 1980.2. Cushing, H. The Life of Sir William Osler.

Oxford University Press (One VolumeEdition),1940.

3. Harrell, G. T. "The Osler-EndowedTudor and Stuart Club". Pharos 47: 23-26,Summer 1984.

4. Personal communications.

George T. Harrell, MD.Pennsylvania State University

Editor's note: This article was origi-nally presented as a paper at theannual meeting of the American OslerSociety, Baltimore, Maryland,May 8,1990.

Faith Wallis Honoured

By a unanimous decision of the Board ofCurators at its meeting on November 7th,1990, Faith Wallis was awarded the honor-ific title of Osler Librarian.

Faith Wallis joined the staff of the OslerLibrary in January 1985 as Assistant Historyof Medicine Librarian. She immediately setthe highest possible standard for the com-bined role of scholar and librarian. Follow-ing an international recruitment for aHistory of Medicine Librarian, Dr. Walliswas selected for this position in March,1986.

Since her appointment as History ofMedicine Librarian, Dr. Wallis has pro-moted the Osler Library in the Faculty ofMedicine, the University community andexternally to an unprecedented degree. Sheis committed to making available the re-sources of the Library in the advancementof scholarship. Her own scholarship, as amedievalist, enhances her role as ambassa-dor on behalf of the Osler Library. At thesame time, Dr. Wallis continues to playadaily role in the Osler Library, respondingto numerous demands for service by users.Her commitment to developing the collec-tion has been distinguished, in particularthrough her initiatives with respect to theSocial Sciences and Humanities ResearchCouncil. Through her initiative, Dr. EricOrmsby, Director of McGill University li-braries, acquired a substantial collection of19th-century French medical theses for theLibrary. These are only a few of the manyachievements that qualify Dr. Wallis for thetitle of Osler Librarian.

The designation Osler Librarian is anhonorific title, without financial implica-tions. However, since it is awarded by theBoard of Curators and has been given onlytwice, to Dr. W. W. Francis and to Dr. PhilipM. Teigen, it is most prestigious.

Richard CruessDean, Faculty of Medicineof McGill Universityand Chairman, Board of Curators,Osler Library

The initial letter on this page is reproduced from Alexander Nesbitt (ed.) Decorative alphabetsand initials, plate 118, Dover Publications, 1959.

An Osler Letter to Lady Hurst, 1917

Sir Arthur Hurst by Sir Hubert von Herkomer RA

A previously unpublished Osler letterhas recently come to light, pasted on theback of a framed copy of John Singer Sar-gent's crayon sketch of Osler (1914), in thepossession of a daughter of the late Sir Ar-thur Hurst.

Sir Arthur Hurst (1879-1944), physician toGuy's Hospital and pioneer of British gas-tro-enterology, was one of this century'sgreatest doctors. He was an Oxford gradu-ate and, early in his career in 1905, he wasawarded a Radcliffe Travelling Fellowship.The OsIers, newly arrived in Oxford and notyet settled in 13 Norham Gardens, werelodging at the King's Arms. Hurst wentthere to see Osler and consulted him abouthis plans for foreign travel. They becamegood friends and Hurst was delightedwhen, in 1935, Oxford University awardedhim the Osler Medal.

During the First World War, Osler andHurst were medical consultants to theArmy but Hurst (thirty years younger thanOsler) served overseas with the Mediterra-nean Expeditionary Force and later in hos-pitals in Oxford, Netley and Seale Hayne.

In 1912, Hurst married a New Zealandgirl, Cushla Riddiford, and a son and twodaughters were born to them. Osler wasfond of Cushla Hurst and, because she wasfrom New Zealand, he dubbed her"Zelanda". The copy of the Sargent sketchwas a present from Osler to Cushla Hurstand is inscribed: "Zelanda. With affection-ate regards. 5.3.17".

The letter, pasted on the back of the Sar-gent print, is written on headed paper from13 Norham Gardens, Oxford, and is simplydated "16th". Since the date on the Sargentprint is 5.3.17 one may assume that the letter

was written on 16.3.17. The style is typicalof Osler in light-hearted mood. The refer-ence to "the major" is, of course, to ArthurHurst, then serving at Netley Military Hos-pital, Hampshire. He was later promoted toLieutenant-Colonel. Hurst was asthmaticand the reference to N etley night air beingsoporific may possibly relate to this.

16th13 Norham Gardens,Oxford.

Dear Zelanda

I was thrilled - head and heart - to hearfrommy niece today that the photographs wereonly now ready. I hope it has arrived. Therehas been such a run on [this] class ofprofessionalbeauty photograph that the delaywas unavoidable!

I hopeall goes well with the major and thatthe NetIey night air is soporific.Yours sincerelyWm Osler

ReferenceA twentieth century physician, being the

reminiscences of Sir Arthur Hurst. London:Arnold, 1949.

AcknowledgementI am indebted to Rosemary Naegele (nee

Hurst) for her kind permission to publishthis letter.

Alex Sakula, M.D., F.R.CP.Faculty of History of MedicineSociety of Apothecaries of London

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The Osler Memorial Plaque

Historic Sites and Monuments Board ofCanada Unveils Plaque Commemorating

Sir William Osler

A special feature of Osler Day on Novem-ber 7th, 1990 was the unveiling of a plaqueof the Historic Sites and Monuments Boardof Canada commemorating Sir William Osler.

The ceremony of unveiling was held inthe Osler Libra!)', the afternoon of OslerDay. The Chair was occupied by Mrs. Ray-monde Gauthier, member of the HistoricSites and Monuments Board of Canada.Welcoming remarks were made by Dr. Rich-ard Cruess, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine,McGill University. Historical and biographi-cal notes relating to Sir William Osler wereprovided by Dr. Faith Wallis, Dr. RichardGolden and Dr. Marian Kelen. The unveil-ing itself was performed by Dr. RichardCruess and the Honourable Robert Layton,M.P. for Lachine - Lac-Saint-Louis, repre-se~ting the Honourable Robert R. de Cotret,Minister of the Environment for Canada, towhom the Historic Sites and MonumentsBoard is an advisory body. Then Mr. GillesDesaulniers, Director General, CanadaParks Service read the text of the plaque inFrench and English, and the Reverend NickBrotherwood of the McGill UniversityChaplaincy Service offered the blessing.

Subsequently the plaque was mountedjust outside the Drummond Street entranceof the McIntyre Medical Building.

Corrections to Newsletter 65

The author's name, Palmer H. Futcher,was inadvertently omitted at the end of theleading article in the October 1990 Newslet-ter. We offer our apologies.

The caption under the illustration to thatsame lead article should read "MarjorieHoward at the time of her engagement toThomas B. Futcher, 1909".

In the tribute to Harold Nathan Segall inthe October 1990 Newsletter, "Aequanimatas"should have been" Aequanimitas".

Friends of the Osler Library

The Library gratefully acknowledges thesupport it has received from Friends, bothold and new, who have responded to theappeal for funds for the 1990-1991 academicyear. To date 307 Friends have given a totalof approximately $13,820. A special dona-tion of $15,000 (U.S.) has been received forrenovation projects to the Osler Library anda travel fund for the Librarians. Most of thecontributions have come from Friends inCanada and the United States of America.However very welcome contributions havecome also from Brazil, Chile, Federal Re-public of Germany; India, Norway; Switzer-land, United Kingdom and West Indies.

The names of Friends whose contribu-tions are recorded after January 31,1991 willbe listed in the June issue of the Newsletter.

Ted AdlerDaniel M. AlbertKenneth B. Andras

...syndney w. Arnold*Gary F. BaconJohn C. Ball

*Ronald BarrJ. A. Barondess

*Beverly Baserman (in memory of HaroldN. Segall)

*Don G. BatesWilliam K. BeattyJean BeaudoinIrving A. BeckRobert Bell

*E. H. BensleyAbel E. BerlandDennis 1. BernardiniRobert K. BlairJudy S. BlazarZla~d BlazinaFranGoise BlochHarry BlochGeorges BordageF. Munroe BourneJ. Robert BowenJohn W. Brennan

*Joseph A. Brock*Ivan W. Brown Jr.Ronald F. BuchanRalf Buhrmann

*James J. Bulger (in memory of EdmundE. Simpson)Howard B. BurchellStuart S. BursteinJ. Walker Butin

*Robert CampbellD. J. CanaleFernande K. CanteroRichard M. Caplan

David R. Carlin IIEric T. CarlsonJohn C. Carson

*Centre Canadien D' ArchitectureFranGoise P. Chagnon

*Donald A. Chambers*James C. M. ChanRobert J. Chapman

*Bruce CharlesRichard R. Cherry1. Parker Chesney

*S. D. ClarkElizabeth Clark-Price

*Alan J. H. Coffey*Jack CohenEleanor Colle (in memory of HaroldN. Segall)Robert F. CommitoEarl M. CoopermanM. Audrey Copping

*Dykes CordellR. F. P. Cronin

*A. F. Culver*Richard A. CurrieN. A. D' Amato

*Lyubica DabichCharles S. DavidsonNicholas E. Davies

*F.Andrew Davis

*Eric De BellaigueGiuseppe Del Priore

* Patrice DelavenneNicholas DeweyVincenzo F. Di Nicola

Peter S. B. Digby*William R. DorseyLeopold Luiz Dos Santos-NetoAlthea DouglasD. E. DouglasKeith N. DrummondJ. M. Duffin

*Thomas W. DukesDan A. DunawayJames W. Dutton

*Douglas 1. Dykeman*Paul G. DymentGeorge C. Ebers

*Philip EibelJohn A. EllertonCharlotte Ferencz

*Clare M. Flint*R. Roy Forsey*Robert FortuineT. Emmett FrancoeurSamuel O. FreedmanPalmer H. FutcherW. Bruce FyeD. Lornes Gales

Richard R. GalpinMr. & Mrs. GellerKeith B. GianniAllan GibofskyH. W. Gillen

Susan A. GillespiePierre Gloor

*Alan B. Gold*David S. Goldbloom*Richard 1. Golden*James T. GoodrichWillard GoodwinDouglas 1. Gordon

*Sheldon H. Gottlieb

Dorothea Gould (in memory of HaroldN. Segall)

*Peter GreigJohn H. GreistPaul M. Gross

*Richard GrotheMary Guggenheimer

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Fraser N. Gurd

Eve Osler HampsonWilliam C. Hanigan

*George T. Harrell*Robert G. Harries*Theodore J. Haywood*H. E. HeggtveitT. B. HigginsonFred D. HoenigerDavid C. HullBrahm B. Hyams

*Dr. & Mrs. Jackson*Robert E. JohnsonDavid 1. Johnston

*Orville N. JonesEdward D. JosephMr. & Mrs. Kahn (in memory of HaroldN. Segall)

*Richard J. KahnB. T. KeeneAndrew & Marian KelenJ. Susan KelenStuart P. KenningElton R. Kerr

*Michael KieferRalph J. Kimmerly

*Douglas G. KinnearNeil Klar

*Nester B. KowalskyH. A. KozinnGordon KripJoseph Kristan

*Roy B. Lacoursiere*Robert C. LarimerCamilo Larrain

*Donald Lawrence

*Charles Lazarus (in memory of HaroldN. Segall)Wayne LeBel

*c. P. LeblondCarl LeeGeoffrey LehmanWilfred & Fae Leith (in memory of HaroldN. Segall)Philip W. Leon

*c. J. LeonardCarwile LeRoy

*Rachmiel LevineRobert 1. Lewandowski

*John LewisGeorge W. Lilley

*Hoong LimJain I. LinBrian LittleRobert C. LoveKenneth T. MacFarlanec. D. MacLean

Dr. & Mrs. MacLean (in memory of HaroldN. Segall)J. Peter MacleodJ. Wendell MacLeodJohn N. MappinEdward 1. MargettsJohn J. Massarelli

*Dr. & Mrs. MauerJanet W. McArthurEleanor McGarryJohn P. McGovernBessie McKinlay

*Eric McLeanRobert E. McMahonMcMaster University, Health SciencesLibrary, Serials Dept.Sandra F. McRaeJ. F. MeakinsMedizinhistorisches Institut der UniversitiitBernc. David Merkel

*Erich MeyerhoffMilwaukee Academy of Medicine

Gabriella M. MiottoR. E. MitchellJ. R. MooreHenry G. MorganSumner E. Moulton

*Thomas G. Mulligan*Irena Murray*Morton NathansonEarl F. Nation

National Museum of Science & TechnologyJohn A. Newsom*Robert Nicholls*H. F. NormanJeremy Norman & Co.Richard T. O'Kell

Ragnvalcl OkkenhaugYnez Viole O'Neill

*Dr. & Mrs. OrlandellaCampbell R. Osler

*E. W. OuterbridgeHarry OxornG. K. ParkeW. David Parsons

*John W. Patrick*Murray C. PatrickPennsylvania Hospital, Medical LibraryCharles R. PerakisRobert Z. PerkinsIrwin & Lena PincusJean-Maurice Poitras

*M. B. Pranesh*Raymond PrinceBernice P. Quinn

*Herbert RakatanskyHugh A. Raphael

*Ted F. H. Redewill*John H. RedpathHarris D. Riley Jr.

*Lee H. Riley Jr.*A. H. RinslerA. H. T. Robb-Smith

*Charles Robert*K. B. RobertsH. Rocke Robertson

*AIvin E. RodinCharles G. RolandStuart A. Rosenberg

*Clarence Rosenhek*N. P. Rosman*Robert S. Rothwell*Prank H. Russ*Morris H. SaffronAndre R. SanschagrinJ. W. SavacoolRalph Schlaeger

*John W. Scott*R. Scott-MoncrieffMyron Segal

*Pierre M. SenecalNorman Shaftel

*Thomas Shaw-StiffelMichael J. SheaHuntington SheldonGordon ShepherdChristopher B. Shields

*J.Wendell ShnitkaMel ShoreMark E. SilvermanRobert R. Smalley

*Asa J. SmithRalph F. SortorTheodore 1. Sourkes

*Edward A. Sprague*Elivira Stahl*Donald & Ingrid StanleyD. H. StarkeyWilliam G. SteinPeter J. StephensE. T. StevensJean Stevenson

William P. Stoneman

James R. Stuart

Eleanor SweezeyW. A. TaylorG. T. TanselleEric Teboul

B. W. Teigenw. D. Tigertt

*R. Carmichael TilghmanM. Wilson Toll

Dr. & Mrs. TourneyCatherine Townsend

*Marshall TrossmanWarren W. TuckerAndre Turmel

*Richard C. U'Ren

UCLA, Art Library, Serials Dept.A. H. Van SoestRonald E. Vlietstra

*Prederick B. Wagner Jr.Lester Wallman (in memory of HaroldN. Segall)

*George C. WalshMrs. Allan Walters

Jean F. WebbRobert M. Webster

*Leonard WeistropEllen B. Wells

Jan W. WeryhoBruce Whiteman

*Pred M. Wiegand*Benson R. Wilcox

*Josephine H. Wilcox (in memory of1. Dewitt Wilcox)Jack W. WilkersonDonald R. Wilson

James W. WilsonJoel A. Wirth

*Leonard S. Wolfe

*SupportingPatron

Editorial Committee for the News/etter:

Edward H. BenslEy, Honorary Osler Li-brarian and Editor; Eleanor MacLean,Head, Blacker-Wood Library of Biologyand Acting History of Medicine Librar-ian (replacing Faith Wallis who is on ,leave 1990-91); Wayne LeBel, Assistant I

! History of Medicine Librarian; Lily Szc-I

I zygiel, Editorial Assistant.

I Legal Deposit 1/1991 ISSN 0085-4557 II I

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