Osler's Principles and Practice of Medicine was the best English language work on medicine of its time. Besides being one of the greatest of all clinicians, Osler was possessed of a fine literary style and an extensive knowledge of medical bibliography. For Osler's own account of the preparation of his textbook, see the Bibliotheca Osleriana, G+M 2231 and "Sir William Osler: An Annotated Bibliography with Illustrations" by Richard L. Golden and Charles G. Roland, #1375.This is a presentation copy to Arthur Jukes Johnson (1848-1921), a Toronto physician whose combined house and office was at 52 Bloor St. W., Toronto. His interest in pathology and expert knowledge in medical jurisprudence led to his appointment by the province of Ontario as the first chief coroner of Toronto in June 1902. As coroner he provided evidence for the crown in many criminal trials in the Toronto area, including the Reginald Birchall case of 1890, prosecuted by Britton Bath Osler, brother of Johnson's former schoolmate, William. In the famous Hyams brothers murder case of 1895-6, Johnson contributed again as part of Osler's prosecution team. Dr. A. J. Harrington gave evidence in the 1924 trial of Dr. W.H. Oaks of Barrie, Ont., charged with "procuring a miscarriage" for a woman named Constance Browne. He is probably the same Dr. Harrington who published an article entitled "Is Vaccination What It Should Be?" in the Canadian Journal of Medicine and Surgery in 1902, in which he argued that not enough practitioners were sterilizing their equipment properly before undertaking vaccinations. The same journal states that Dr. Harrington intends to build himself an up-to-date doctor's residence on Bathurst Street just north of Bloor for $10,000. As Dr. Gilbert Parker was later located at 817 Bathurst, it seems likely he took over the residence and practice of Dr. Harrington.
