Letters of William Halsted and René Leriche: "Our friendship seems so deep".

The friendship of William Halsted and René Leriche is little appreciated in the annals of surgery. Although Halsted was Leriche's senior by almost 30 years, they enjoyed a relationship on both professional and surprisingly personal levels. Halsted's sincere concern for his younger French colleague was manifested by a constant fostering of Leriche's surgical research and creative ideas. Leriche was to become a life-long admirer of Halsted's surgical philosophies. He often stated that a 3-day visit with Halsted in 1913 persuaded him to stop considering surgery as a purely clinical and technical subject. During their 10-year relationship, extensive correspondence was maintained. This article will explore their friendship through analysis of their personal letters, recently found in the archives of the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions. Written in French, they remained undisturbed for 65 years. Their present translation into English represents the first time they have been published. Vascular surgery was the major topic of discussion. Included among the many topics are surgical management of aneurysmal disease, utilization of sympathectomy, and investigations into physiologic effects of arterial ligation. In addition, many aspects of the savagery of World War I, as encountered by Leriche at the French front, and Halsted's views on various events of the conflict, are chronicled. The letters reveal a deep and abiding association between the two men which is of interest because Halsted shared his nonsurgical life with very few younger men. Their insight into specific areas of experimental surgery and ideas about various medical problems and other medical personalities are recounted.