Osler goes viral: "The Fixed Period" revisited. Issue 4 (2nd October 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bryan, Charles S.
• Is Part Of: Proceedings. Volume 31:Issue 4(2018)
• Page Start: 550
• Page End: 553
• Publication Date: 2018-10-02
• Subjects: Adult -- aging -- life cycle -- Osler, William -- "The Fixed Period"; Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine; Medicine -- Periodicals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.005
• DOI: 10.1080/08998280.2018.1493322
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0899-8280

Abstract

Abstract: William Osler's parting address to faculty at the Johns Hopkins University, given on February 22, 1905, and published as "The Fixed Period, " clouded his departure from North America after reporters sensationalized a playful suggestion that aging professors be chloroformed. A newly available collection of newspaper clippings affords a semiquantitative analysis of the press reaction. Only 40% of the writers openly criticized Osler. Some (about 15%) defended him; many (33%) merely attempted humor; and a few (about 6%) wrote poetry. Often overlooked are the main points of Osler's address: awareness of one's place in the adult life cycle and the need for self-renewal with advancing age.