William Osler and “the special field of neurological surgery”

Abstract

✓ Harvey Cushing's paper, “The special field of neurological surgery,” published in the Bulletin of The Johns Hopkins Hospital in 1905, constitutes a recognized milestone in the establishment of neurological surgery as a separate surgical specialty in the United States. The main point the author wishes to make here is that the very special friendship of Sir William Osler, influencing, encouraging, stimulating Cushing at the particular time that it did (1901 to 1905), was probably the primary positive influence that made it possible for Cushing to achieve specialization in neurological surgery and to make his considerable contribution in this field.