in which has been fought out the greatest victory in history...'Lister's experimental work on healing of wounds led to results of the deepest moment to every individual subject to an accident or who has to submit to an operation.'"
The value of public health is extolled by Osler's comments about infectious diseases: "...But Man's Redemption of Man is nowhere as well known as in the abolition and prevention of the group of diseases which we speak of as the fevers, or the acute infections. This is the glory of the science of medicine, and nowhere in the world have its lessons been so thoroughly carried out as in this country."
Osler continues by mentioning the abolition of smallpox, typhus and typhoid fever and tells about the work of Jenner, "A blundering art until thirty or forty years ago, preventive medicine was made a science by the discovery of the causes of many of the serious epidemic diseases."
The immediate and opportune tribute by Osler during the commemorative week for Robert Koch follows: "...The man is only just dead, Robert Koch, who gave to his fellow man the control of cholera." Osler then talked about the discovery of yellow fever, typhoid and tuberculosis, "Let them fight for the day when a man's life shall be more precious than gold. Now alas! the cheapness of life is every day's tragedy."
Osler returned to a religious phase with: "If in the memorable phrase of the Greek philosopher Prodicus, 'That which benefits human life is God,' we may see in this new gospel a link betwixt us and the crowning race of those who eye to eye shall look on knowledge, and in whose hand Nature shall be an open book, an approach to the glorious day."
