The letters of William Stewart Halsted and John Chalmers DaCosta.

William Stewart Halsted and John Chalmers DaCosta are two of the most distinguished surgeons in the history of medicine in the United States. Although their personalities were completely opposite, they enjoyed a long and devoted friendship. During their relationship, a fairly continuous correspondence was maintained. This essay has examined their friendship through an analysis of their personal letters, which are published herein for the first time.