Evening journal., 1919-12-30


and was kept busy organizing hospitals
snd working in them from the begin
ming until the end OF the war In this
work Lady Osler proved a wonderful
assistant 10 her husb'nd. II was large
/ ly through her own end Dr. Osler's
efforts that The professors from the
dectroyed University Of Louvaln found
refuge and succOr at The University OF
oxford and means 20 live and carry on
their work while the war was going
on. And although he himself dd not
go TO the front, he did what was h rd-
er. he gave his only son TO 40 there,
Lieut.. Edward n. Osler, who served in
the Royal British Artillery lie was
one Of those who did not return. He
was only % and was killed In action
late IN the summer or 1917.
DR.. 0sler's birthplace was Tecumseh,
ont, July i2, 1919, and he was the son
Of a minister He was graduated from
Trinity College, Toronto, In 1868 and
began his medical studies al the To-
ronto School Of Medicine, and later at
McGill University, graduating in 1872.
He later took degrees az Edin5urzh and
then at Berlin and Vienna. Upon his
return from Europe he became a mem
Der OF the faculty Of McGnl University.
where he remained until 1884. when
he went 10 the University Of pennsyl-
vania TO become professor OF clinical
medicine He remained at philadel-
nhia until 1889, when he was invited
10 create the chair Of the practice and
principles Of medicine at the Johns
Hopkins Medic9l School and promptly
accepted. He remained there until 1904
when the call came from Oxford and
ne went TO that famous university.
meeting Immediately wiGl such bril-
liant success In his work that he was
created a baronet by King George In
Center OF 60-Year-Lim.t Storm.
One Of the biggest storms that ever
ragged about a medical man I'm this
country centered about him as the re-
suit or statements that he made In an
address just before leaving this coun-
Try for his new post lie was then 55
years old. In that address he said:
Il have two fixed ideas. well known
10 my friends, harmless obsessions
with which ! sometimes bore them.
but which have a direct bearing upon
thls Important problem (the retire
ment from teaching service Of pbvsl-
clans after a definite period of service
or at limit Of age.)
Ihe urst is comparative uselessness
or men above 40 years OF age
Ihls may seem shocking and vet
read Alright the worlds history hears
out the statement. Take the sum ~
human achievement IN action. I'm
science, In art, in literature-subtract
the work Of the men above 40. and.
while we should miss great treasures.
even priceless treasures. we would prac-
tlcally be where we are today. 70 Is |
dlflcult to name great and far-reach- |
ing conquest Of the mind which has
not been given 10 the world by a man
on whose back the sun was still shin |
ing.
The effective moving. vitallzlng work
OF the world Is done between the ages
OF % and 40 ycars-these Is golden wears /
or plenty, the anabOllc or constructive |
period, In which there Is always a bal |
ance In the mental bank and the credit !
is still good.
In the science and art OF medicine
there has not been an advance OF the
first rank which has not been Initiated
by young or comparatively young men.
Vesallus, Harvey, Hunter. Blchat, Laen-
nee, Nlrchow. Lister, Koch-the green
years were yet on their heads when
their epOch-making studies were made. /
To modify an old saving. a man Is safe |
morally at 30, rich mentally at 40. wise /
spiritually at 50-Or never.
Advocated ChlOrOfOrna
MY second fixed idea ls the useless
ness OF men above 60 years Of age. and /
The incalculable benent It would be IN
commercial, political and IN profession
Al life II, as matter OF course. men |,
stopped work at this age Donne tells ]
IS In his 'Blathanatos' that, by the laws
" certain wise States. scxagenerall were
,recipitated from bridge. and In Rome
men OF that age were not admitted 10
he suffrage, and were called dopontani.
BECAUSE the way 10 tho Senate was per
)ontem, and they from age were not
permitted TO come hlther. In that
charming novel. the Fixed Period An
h0ny Troll0pe discusses the practical
advantages in modern life OF a return
o this ancient usage. and the plot ,
hinges on the admirable sch me OF a
ollege HlO which at 60 men retired for
year contemplation before a peace
ul departure by chloroform. That in
alculsble benefit might follow such
cheme is apparent TO anyone who. like ,
myself. is nea ~ the limit, and who
las made careful study OF the calam-
ties which may befall men during the ,