William Halsted and Rudolph Matas: their unique alliance

Abstract

William Halsted and Rudolph Matas were two of the most distinguished surgeons in American medicine. Although their personalities were completely opposite, they enjoyed a long and devoted friendship. This is of historical interest in that Halsted opened his nonprofessional life to a very few other men. During their relationship a fairly continuous corresponsence was maintained. This paper will examine their friendship through an analysis of their personal letters, the majority of which have never been published. Their contents reveal a unique alliance, and provide futher information on the world of American surgery as it existed during the first part of this centrury.