Medical Meanings: A Glossary of Word Origins, Second Edition (Medical Humanities)

More than just a dictionary, Medical Meanings explores the history of medical terms. Written with bracing wit and a refreshing lack of pretense, this new edition has been completely revised and sharpened, and nearly 300 new words and phrases have been added. Whether you are a student, physician, or word connoisseur, a delightful reading experience awaits.

Dr. William S. Haubrich's curiosity knows no bounds, nor does that of his readers. The overwhelming demand for more histories of yet more words is satisfied in the eagerly awaited second edition of Medical Meanings: A Glossary of Word Origins. Here the reader will find not just etymology and explanations of medical terminology but lessons in history and popular culture. They will learn what really ailed John Merrick, a.k.a., the Elephant Man; what odd deformity plagued the House of Hapsburg, rulers of Spain from 1493 to 1780; and what the connection is between fetal alcohol syndrome and Little Orphan Annie. Charming, witty, and a rollicking learning experience, the second edition of Medical Meanings is fully updated and revised to include over thirty percent more of the definitions, histories, and amusing anecdotes readers of the first edition so treasured.


Includes entries like:

Charley horse is a term commonly used to describe pain and stiffness, usually in thigh muscles and especially that consequent to athletic stress. One explanation is that Charles II of England, following the Restoration in 1660, rewarded soldiers disabled by service in the Loyalist cause with appointment to undemanding government jobs. Such gimpy veterans were known as "Charleys." Later, the same Charley came to be given to an elderly, often partially lame horse retired from strenuous service and reserved for family use. Another story is that a somewhat decrepit horse named Charley was employed to haul a roller back and forth across the playing field of the Chicago White Sox baseball team in the 1890s. If all this seems devious, it's because it is.

Pithode is thenuclear barrel-like figure formed in the process of cellular mitosis. The Greek pithos was a wine cask. Rowdy medical students at Johns Hopkins University in the 1890s formed what they called The Society of Pithotomists, a reference to their penchant for tapping into kegs of wine or beer.

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Front......Page 1 Introduction......Page 11 A......Page 15 B......Page 43 C......Page 51 D......Page 77 E......Page 86 F......Page 99 G......Page 108 H......Page 118 I......Page 129 J......Page 138 K......Page 140 L......Page 143 M......Page 153 N......Page 168 O......Page 175 P......Page 183 Q......Page 213 R......Page 215 S......Page 224 T......Page 249 U......Page 266 V......Page 269 W......Page 277 X......Page 279 Y......Page 280 Z......Page 281 This second edition of Medical Meanings is fully updated and revised to include over thirty percent more of the definitions, histories, and amusing. More than a dictionary, it explores the history of medical terms, tracing some back to classical roots and describing the recent coinage of others. All previous 3000 entries have been considered afresh, and many have been revised or sharpened, and nearly 300 new words and phrases have been added. Helps readers find etymology and explanations of medical terminology and lessons in history and popular culture. This title also helps to learn what ailed John Merrick; what odd deformity plagued the House of Hapsburg, rulers of Spain from 1493 to 1780; and, what the connection is between fetal alcohol syndrome and Little Orphan Annie. Dictionary is revised and updated to include 3,000 entries, 300 of them new words and phrases. Features the etymology of medical terms revealing fascinating stories about how the word or term began. Previous c1997. Medicine--Terminology.