Word: crichton
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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...unravel that alphabet soup, Author-Physician Michael Crichton (The Great Train Robbery, The Andromeda Strain) recently looked over some back issues of the New England Journal of Medicine. Crichton, who wrote novels even during his days at Harvard Medical School (class of 1969), was appalled by what he read. The style, he reported in the Journal, was "as dense, impressive and forbidding as possible." Examples...
Even as late as the 19th century, Crichton says, physicians were writing with strength and conviction. Now, however, "voices are passive, modifiers are abstract and qualifying clauses abound. The general tone is one of utmost timidity, going far beyond sensible caution." Crichton finds it all very puzzling. "An eminent surgeon strides purposefully into the operating room each day," he says, "but to read his papers, you wonder how he finds the courage to get out of bed in the morning." Crichton has a theory about the use of obfuscating medical language. In explaining it, however, he unwittingly demonstrates that jargon...
...Great Train Robbery, Crichton...
...Great Train Robbery, Crichton...
...Great Train Robbery, Crichton...