Osler's Autopsies: Their Nature and Utilization

SIR WILLIAM OSLE performed 786 autopsies while pathologist to the Montreal General Hospital from 1876 to 1884.1 This represents approximately one hundred autopsies a year, a respectable number for a working pathologist, but a large number for one who was also physician to the hospital, registrar for McGill Medical School, and actively engaged in teaching the Institutes of Medicine.In addition he performed 162 autopsies while professor of medicine at Philadelphia.Even more remarkable than the number of autopsies performed by Osler is the extensive use he made of the material.He literally left no avenue unexploited in the utilization of his autopsies.This study is an analysis of the type of autopsy performed by Osler and the manifold ways in which he capitalized on his extensive experience in the morgue, including Pathology Reports of the Montreal General Hospital, presentations before various medical societies, publication of papers, writing of a textbook of medicine, teaching and preparations of museum specimens.