William Osler. Portrait of Sir William Osler (1849-1919),Canadian physician and discoverer of the minute platelet cells that make blood clot. Osler studied medicine in Toronto,Canada,gaining his degree in 1872. In 1873 he discovered blood platelets,and in 1875 was appointed professor at McGill University. He subsequently held professorial posts at the University of Pennsylvania,Johns Hopkins University and Oxford University,UK. As a teacher he pioneered new training methods,including tuition in the wards and laboratory techniques,In 1892 he wrote The Principles and Practice of Medicine,which was widely read within the medical profession |