3 JANUARY 1920, Page 11

We regret to record the death of Sir William Osler,

the eminent Canadian physician who had been Regius Professor of Medicine at Oxford since 1905. He was a great man as well as a great physician, and his popularity and personal influence were unbounded both in this country and in America. Any one who ever heard him speak could understand why he was so well liked and trusted by his colleagues, his students, and all laymen who came in touch with him. He was patently sincere, modest, and unselfish. All his academic and professional triumphs had left him unspoiled. The word " urbane " in its finest sense seems to describe his manner exactly. He was a true humanist. Some jesting American reporter once imputed to him the phrase " too old at forty." What he really said was : "The teacher's life should have three periods—study until twenty-five ; investi- gation until forty ; professor until sixty, at which time I would have him retired on double allowance." Sir William' Osier himself was in full work till his death at the age of seventy.