General
old man's friend
What does old man's friend mean?
Traditional epithet for pneumonia, historically regarded as a relatively peaceful cause of death in the very old and frail.
"They kept her comfortable — pneumonia, the old man's friend."
Origin
Old clinical saying attributed to William Osler.
Frequently asked questions
Why is pneumonia called 'the old man's friend'?
Because it was historically regarded as a relatively peaceful cause of death for the very old and frail, ending prolonged suffering.
Where does the phrase come from?
It's an old clinical saying commonly attributed to the physician William Osler.
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