Part 6
When the orotund medical professor stands up to address his students, or to engage in the discussions of a convention, and rolls out technicality after technicality pronounced in a manner that would be disowned by the original Latin or Greek, and is totally at variance with established usage, who would not ask for a little less elegance and a little more education? If it required a great amount of labor outside of the usual course of study for professional men to acquire a knowledge of the pronunciation of words peculiar to the professions, the subject might be treated with more tolerance; but as the definitions and the orthoepy might be so readily learned together during those years of daily reference to books that are required before one should be considered competent to stand as a guide to others, it certainly seems that they do not properly appreciate the dignity of their position by thus laying themselves open to public criticism.
Many a student, in order to become instructed in certain branches, has been compelled to reluctantly sit for months or years at the feet of those that he felt were far inferior to him in common school education, hearing hourly such violations of orthoepy and syntax as would be a discredit to school children. And, doubtless, many such students have had such a charity for their teachers that they have wished to direct their attention to their faults, but have been restrained on account of the fear of enmity, expulsion, or of lessening the chances for passing the final examination.
The bare thought of being so criticised should be so galling to any one bearing the dignified title of "professor," that he ought to be stimulated to endeavor to make himself an authority concerning the proprieties of speech.
The study of orthoepy was held in such high esteem by the accent Greeks, and their delicate ears were so offended by any violation of its rules, that if an orator mispronounced a single word, the entire audience immediately hissed him.
During the present state of pronunciation it would indeed be embarrassing to the public speaker, if such a custom existed in this country. Let us imagine, for instance, our friend Professor Abdominous Gynæcophonus, with his face ebullient with smiles of self-conceit, arising to address such an audience. "Gentlemen: I have listened patiently to this op´po-nent (_hisses_) of al´lo-path-y (_hisses_) and now arise to make a few remarks and in´quir-ies (_hisses_). In answer to his objections against hy-os-cy-ā´mus (_hisses_) as an anodyne and sō´por-if-ic, (_hisses_) I would say that in cases of cough and sleeplessness, I have long used hyoscyamia combined in trō´chĕz (_hisses_) without any of those effects that the păt´ron (_hisses_) of hō´me-o-path-y (_hisses_) mentions. And having made almost a specialty of the treatment of făç´i-al (_hisses_) neuralgia or tic-dŏl-o-rōō´" (_hisses_)--and it would certainly be time for him to dolorously sit down, although he might raise the question--
"What's in a name? that which we call a rose, By any other name would smell as sweet,"
and argue therefrom that the pronunciation of a word should make no difference so long as its meaning was understood. Amongst professional men, it has been observed that physicians and dentists are by far more prone than others to orthoepical errors. Attention is requested to a few of the more common of these in addition to those found in the preceding vocabulary connected with words that are alike used by the professional and the unprofessional, such as: _abdomen_, _acclimated_, _albumen_, _animalcula arabic_, _citrate_, _embryo_, _excrescence_, _fetid_, _fetor_, _forceps_, _homeopathy_, _hydropathy_, _jugular_, _jujube_, _nasal_, _pharmacopœia_, _purulent_, _spasmodic_, _sulphurous_, _tragacanth_, etc. The authorities appealed to are Dunglison, Thomas, Webster and Worcester. Notwithstanding the superior merit of Dunglison's Medical Dictionary, as far as the comprehensiveness and reliability of its definitions are concerned, it is evident that it is almost useless as an orthoepical guide. The principal accent is in many cases marked, but the pronunciation of preceding and succeeding syllables can not be determined, and there is no attempt at syllabication.
Dr. Thomas' dictionary, though less comprehensive, is equally reliable in its definitions, and is excellent authority in regard to orthoepy; though it is to be regretted that in some words important syllables are not sufficiently marked. For instance, take the words _as-bes´tos_ and _bis´muth_; how can it be determined whether the first should be pronounced ăs-bĕs´toss or ăz-bĕs´tōz or the latter bĭz´muth or bĭss´muth? Webster and Worcester are undoubtedly good authorities for the pronunciation of the medical words they give. In the following vocabulary all of the authorities that mention the words may be considered as agreeing, unless notice is made of their disagreement.
MEDICAL AND DENTAL WORDS.
[In Latin and Latinized Greek words, the English sounds of the vowels are given as those used by the majority of professional men. If any one, however, prefers to adopt the continental method, sounding _a_ as in _father_, _y_ and _i_ as _e_ in _veto_, etc., and consistently applies it to all such words, no one, of course, has a right to object.]
=Adipose=--ăd´i-pōse, not ad´i-pōze.
=Ala=--ā´la, not ăl´a. =Alæ=, plural.
=Alis=--ā´lĭs, not ăl´ĭs. This as a termination of many words, such as =abdominalis=, =digitalis=, =frontalis=, =lachrymalis=, =transversalis=, etc., is often erroneously pronounced ăl´is.
=Alumen=--al-ū´men, not ăl´u-men.
=Alveolus=--al-vē´o-lus, not al-ve-ō´lus. Plural, =alveoli= (al-vē´o-lī). =Alveolar=--(al-vē´o-lar). Alveolus is the name given to the _cavity_ in the jaw that is seen upon the removal of the root of a tooth, and it possesses no more tangibility than a pinch of air; almost daily, however, we hear dentists speak of extracting a tooth with a piece of the _alveolus_ attached. What a curiosity for preservation in a museum is a tooth with a piece of a little hole fastened to the root! What is meant is a piece of the _alveolar process_, or portion of bone around the alveolus.
=Anæmic=--a-nĕm´ĭk, not a-nē´mĭk. Dunglison gives the latter.
=Andral=--ŏng-dräl´, not ăn´-dral.
=Aphthæ=--ăf´thē, not ăp´thē.
=Aqua=--ā´kwa, not ăk´wa.
=Arcus Senilis=--se-nī´lis, not sĕn´i-lis.
=Areolar=--a-rē´o-lar, not a-re-ō´lar.
=Aris=--ā´rĭs, not ăr´is in the termination of =angularis=, =medullaris=, =palmaris=, =orbicularis=, =pulmonaris=, etc.
=Asarum=--ăs´a-rum, not a-sā´rum.
=Asbestos=--ăs-bĕs´tŏss, not ăz-bĕs´tōz.
=Attollens=--at-tŏl´lenz, not at-tō´lenz.
=Azygos=--az´y-gos, not a-zy´gos.
=Bagge=--bäg´geh, not băg.
=Bimana=--bī-mā´na, not bī-mā´nĭ-a.
=Bismuth=--bĭz´muth, not bĭss´muth.
=Bitumen=--bĭ-tū´men, not bĭt´u-men.
=Cadaver=--ka-dā´ver, not ka-dăv´er.
=Caries=--kā´rĭ-ēz, not kā´rēz nor kăr´rēz.
=Carminative=--kar-mĭn´a-tive, not kar´mi-nā-tĭve.
=Caryophillus=--kăr-ĭ-o-phĭl´lus, not kăr-ĭ-ŏph´ĭl-lus.
=Cerebral=--sĕr´e-bral, not ser-ē´bral.
=Cerebric=--sĕr´e-bric, not ser-ē´bric.
=Cerebrum=--sĕr´e-brum, not ser-ē´brum. Dunglison gives both.
=Cerumen=--se-rū´men, not sĕr´ū-men.
=Cheyne=--chān or cheen, not shāne.
=Choledochus=--ko-lĕd´o-kus, not kŏl-e-dō´kus nor ko-lĭd´a-kus.
=Cicatrix=--si-kā´trix, not sĭk´a-trix nor si-kăt´rix. Plural, =cicatrices= (sĭk´a-trī´sēz), not sĭ-kăt´rĭ-sēz.
=Cimicifuga=--sĭm-ĭ-sĭf´u-ga, not sĭm-i-sĭ-fū´ga nor sĭm-ĭs´i-fū´ga.
=Cochlea=--kŏk´le-a, not kōk´le-a.
=Conein=--ko-nē´ĭn, not kō´ne-ĭn.
=Conium=--ko-nī´um, not kō´ni-um.
=Cranium=--krā´ni-um, not krăn´i-um.
=Cynanche=--sĭ-năn´kē, not sī-năn´chē.
=Diastase=--dī´as-tāse, not dī-as´tāze.
=Diastole=--dī-as´to-le, not dī´as-tōle.
=Diploe=--dĭp´lo-e, not dip-lō´e.
=Dulcamara=--dul-ka-mā´ra, not dul-sa-mā´ra. Webster gives dul-kam´a-ra also.
=Duodenum=--du-o-dē´num, not du-ŏd´e-num.
=Dyspnœa=--dĭsp-nē´a, not dĭs-nē´a.
=Emesis=--ĕm´e-sis,not em-ē´sis.
=Epiploon=--e-pĭp´lo-on, not ep-ip-lō´on.
=Facial=--fā´shal, not făsh´i-al.
=Foramen=--fo-rā´men, not fo-răm´en.
=Fungi=--fun´jī not fun´gī. Plural of =fungus=.
=Galbanum=--găl´ba-num, not gal-bā´num.
=Gingiva=--jĭn-jī´va, not jĭn´ji-va.
=Glenoid=--glē´noid, not glĕn´oid.
=Glutæus=--glū´tæ-us, according to Webster. The rest give glū-tæ´us.
=Helleborus=--hel-lĕb´o-rus, not hel-le-bō´rus.
=Hyoscyamus=--hī-os-sī´a-mus, not hī-os-sy-ăm´us nor hi-os-sy-ā´mus. =Hyoscyamine= (hī-os-sī´a-mĭn).
=Impetigo=--ĭm-pe-tī´go, not ĭm-pĕt´i-go.
=Incisive=--ĭn-sī´sĭv, not in-sĭs´ive.
=Iodoform=--ī-ŏd´o-form, not ī-ō´do-form. Dunglison gives ī´o-do-form.
=Itis.= According to Webster and Worcester this termination is pronounced ī´tĭs in =bronchitis=, =pleuritis=, =gastritis=, etc. Thomas and Dunglison do not specify, but the inference is that they intend the same. It is, however, so generally pronounced ē´tis, that many would object to the attention attracted by calling it ī´tis.
=Jejunum=--je-jū´num, not jĕj´u-num.
=Juniperus=--ju-nĭp´e-rus, not jū´ni-per-us nor ju-ni-pē´rus.
=Laudanum=--law´da-num, not lŏd´a-num.
=Lentigo=--len-tī´go, not lĕn´ti-go.
=Lepra=--lĕp´ra, not lē´pra. Dunglison gives the latter.
=Leuwenhoek=--lōō´en-hŏŏk or l U h´wen-hŏŏk (U as in fur), not lōō´wen-hōke.
=Levator=--le-vā´tor, not le-văt´or.
=Liquor= (Latin)--lī´kwor, not lĭk´ur as in English.
=Magendie=--mä-zhŏng-dē´, not mā-jĕn´dē.
=Malic=--mā´lic, not măl´ic. Thomas gives the latter.
=Matrix=--mā´trix, not măt´rix.
=Mistura=--mĭs-tū´ra, not mĭs´tu-ra.
=Molecule=--mŏl´e-kūle, not mō´le-kūle.
=Mollities=--mol-lĭsh´ĭ-ēz, not mŏl´lĭ-tēz.
=Molybdenum=--mŏl-ĭb-dē´num, not mo-lĭb´de-num.
=Nasmyth=--nā´smith, not năz´mĭth.
=Nicolai=--nee´ko-lī, not nĭk´o-lā.
=Nucleolus=--nu-klē´o-lus, not nu-kle-ō´lus.
=Oris=--ō´rĭs, not ŏr´is.
=Ovale=--ō-vā´le, not ō-văl´e.
=Panizzi=--pä-nĭt´see or pä-nēt´see, not pan-ĭz´zy.
=Pepys=--pĕps, not pē´pĭs nor pĕp´ĭs.
=Pes Anserinus=--pēz an-ser-ī´nus, not pĕz an-sĕr´i-nus. I once heard a professor describing the facial nerve to his class, and he dwelt upon this plexus for some time, calling it the "Pons Asinorum."
=Podagra=--pŏd´a-gra, not po-dā´gra. Worcester gives po-dăg´ra also.
=Podophyllum=---pŏd-o-phyl´um, not po-dŏph´yl-lum.
=Process=--prŏs´ess, not prō´sess.
=Prostate=--pros´tāte, not prŏs´trāte.
=Purkinje=--pŏŏ R ´kĭn-yeh or pŏŏr´kĭn, not par-kĭn´jē.
=Pylorus=--pĭ-lō´rus, not pī-lôr´us.
=Pyrethrum=--pĭr´e-thrum, not pī-rē´thrum.
=Quadrumana=--quad-rū´ma-na, not quad-ru-mā´nia.
=Rubeola=--ru-bē´o-la, not ru-be-ō´la.
=Sacrum=--sā´krum, not săk´rum.
=Sagittal=--săj´it-tal, not sa-jĭt´tal. Danglison gives the latter.
=Sanies=--sā´nĭ-ēz, not sā´nēz nor săn´ēz.
=Scabies=--scā´bĭ-ez, not scăb´ēz nor scā´bēz.
=Seidlitz=--sīd´lĭtz, not sĕd´lĭtz, unless spelled =Sedlitz=.
=Sinapis=--si-nā´pis, not sĭn´a-pis.
=Squamous=--skwā´mus, not skwaw´mus.
=Systole=--sĭs´to-le, not sĭs´tōle.
=Tinctura=--tinc-tū´ra, not tinct´u-ra.
=Titanium=--ti-tā´ni-um, not ti-tăn´i-um.
=Trachea=--tra-kē´a or trā´ke-a, not trăck´e-a.
=Tremor=--trē´mor, not trĕm´-or. Webster allows the latter also.
=Trismus=--triss´mus, not trĭz´mus.
=Umbilicus=--um-bĭ-lī´kus, according to Worcester, Thomas and Dunglison. Webster gives um-bil´i-kus.
=Variola=--va-rī´o-la, not va-ri-ō´la.
=Veratrum=--ve-rā´trum, not ve-răt´rum.
=Vertebral=--vĕr´te-bral, not ver-tē´bral.
=Virchow=--fĭr´ko, not vïr´chow nor vïr´kow.
=Zinci=--zĭn´si, not zink´ī.
SENTENCES FOR PRACTICE.
The following extract is from the letter of a friend, to whom were sent some of the advance pages of this work: "I am absolutely filled with astonishment to see how many simple words I have been mispronouncing all my life, and would have kept on mispronouncing to the end of my days if my thoughts had not been directed to them. If I were in your place I would end the book with a story in which all the words would be used in the course of the narrative. I can imagine no amusement more instructive or interesting than for a social party to read in turns, under some penalty for each mistake."
I had myself conceived the idea of presenting the words untrammeled with explanation of the orthoepy, or marks of accent; but the form was not decided upon.
The effort to compose a narrative was abandoned after a fair trial; for to have a plot and also bring the words in natural position would require a large volume; otherwise, it made senseless jumble. In the trial sentences given the objects are gained in small space. Those objects are to allow readers to exercise the memory and test their friends; and at the same time to use the words syntactically. It is hoped that the reader will pardon any absurdities of context; as they can not be avoided where one is compelled to use so many selected words, and is obliged to force them into a small compass.
MELANGE.
The invalid came from _Bremen_ to America and hoped to be soon _acclimated_, but was stricken down with a disease that was not _amenable_ to treatment, although he had many physicians: _allopathists_, _hydropathists_ and _homeopathists_. He said that the aim of _allopathy_ was to poison him; of _hydropathy_ to drown him; and of _homeopathy_ to let him die unaided.
* * * * *
One of the _combatants_ struck his _opponent_ in the _abdomen_ with a club, cut off an _alder_ tree; he was carried under the shade of an _ailantus_ and immediately expired.
* * * * *
_Sophia_ found the egg under a _piony_ near the _shumac_ tree; but she broke it in carrying, and spilled the _albumen_ all over her _alpaca_ dress.
* * * * *
The dose for an _adult_ is a _dessert-spoonful_.
* * * * *
It was a plain supper--nothing but _aerated_ bread, _Bologna_ sausage and _radishes_.
* * * * *
He told his _demonstrative disputant_ that he did not wish to _get_ into an _altercation_, but it only appeared to arouse his _combativeness_ still more.
* * * * *
Why do you accent the _antepenult_ of _espionage_?
* * * * *
He _illustrated_ his proposition by cutting off the _apex_ of the figure, and then exhibited his _apparatus_ for the production of _statical_ electricity.
* * * * *
Two-thirds _gum-arabic_ and one-third _gum-tragacanth_ make a good mucilage.
* * * * *
The _archbishop_ dreamed that an _archangel_ came to him and told him to have his _architect_ send to an island in the Grecian _Archipelago_ for white marble for the _pilasters_.
* * * * *
Search the _archives_ of history and you will not find another such _prodigy_ as Admirable _Crichton_.
* * * * *
When, after _traversing_ the ocean, you find yourself in the _arid_ desert of _Sahara_, where there is no _aroma_ of sweet flowers, or anything _at all_ to regale your exhausted energies; where there is no _herb_ nor _herbaceous_ plant near you; where you are almost famished for want of some _potable_ fluid; where you are in constant fear of being _harassed_ by _truculent nomads_--then will you realize that there are no joys _comparable_ to those that exist around the _hearthstone_ of your humble home.
* * * * *
When the contents of the _museum_ were sold by _auction_, the antiquary bought a roll of _papyrus_ filled with _hieroglyphics_, a kind of _bellows_ used by the ancients for starting their fires, and a fine collection of _trilobites_.
* * * * *
The attempt at a _reconnoisance_ in force had been unsuccessful; immediately after _reveille_, the commander of the _fortress_ _put_ it to vote amongst his officers, whether or not they should surrender. The _ayes_ carried it, although some _vehemently_ opposed on account of the excellent _morale_ of the garrison.
* * * * *
The _heroine_ of the _melodrama_ sent to her _betrothed Seignior_ an _exquisite bouquet_, composed of _catalpa_ flowers, _dahlias_, _marigold_ and _thyme_, and prayed his forgiveness for not allowing him the promised _tête-à-tête_ at the _trysting_ place; she had been suffering with the _tic-douloureux_, she said. He generously forgave her and sent her a _sonnet_, in which he said that her voice was sweeter than that of _Piccolomini_, or any other _cantatrice_; that no _houri_ could be more beautiful than she; he called her a fair _florist_, and after _extolling_ her _naïveté_, _roseate_ cheeks and _nymphean_ graces, he swore eternal _homage_ and that he would love her forever and for _aye_.
* * * * *
The judge _bade_ the _desperado_ cease his _badinage_ and answer his _inquiries_, and threatened that if he did not, he would punish him for his _contumacy_.
* * * * *
The _vicar_ was one of the _notable_ men of his day; his wife was a pattern of _industry_, a _notable_ housekeeper. While the birds were chirping their _matin_ song, she might be seen with her _besom_ in her hand.
* * * * *
Is this a _bona fide_ transaction, or is it a _Machiavelian_ attempt to _inveigle_ the _prelate_ into an _imbroglio_?
* * * * *
A _booth_ was erected at the fair where the _pretty_ Misses _Agnes_ and _Rosalind_ with much _complaisance_ dispensed _gratis_ to the visitors, _soda-water_ flavored with _orgeat_ or _sarsaparilla_.
* * * * *
General _Silvester_ and his _protégé_, _Reginald_, met with a _casualty_ that nearly cost them their lives. The horses attached to their _Brougham_ became frightened at a _yacht_ and made a _tremendous_ leap over a high embankment into a _creek_.
* * * * *
At the _zoological_ garden was found nearly every animal _extant_, from a mouse to a _camelopard_.
* * * * *
The _rendezvous_ of the _topographical_ surveyors was at the camp of some hunters on a _knoll_ near the banks of a _cañon_.
* * * * *
The monk concealed his features with his _capoch_ and would have been _irrecognizable_ if his _discourse_ had not betrayed him.
* * * * *
The _étagère_ stands _cater-cornered_ in a _recess_ and contains many beautiful ornaments that his _predecessor_ _gathered_ within the last _decade_ of years; amongst which may be mentioned the heads of _Beethoven_, _Béranger_, _Goethe_, Percy _Bysshe_ Shelley, and many other celebrities, cut in _onyx_.
* * * * *
The _Caucasian_ races obtained their name on account of originating near Mount _Caucasus_.
* * * * *
The _mischievous_ children got _cayenne_ all over their _chaps_, by which they were sufficiently punished without any further _chastening_.
* * * * *
The _chivalric_ Don Quixote, having become a _monomaniac_ on the subject of _chivalry_, bestrode his _Rosinante_, and, attended by his squire, started out to perform _chivalrous_ deeds.
* * * * *
Lord C. has been absent since _February_, 1870; it is said that he has been traveling _incognito_, but it is certain that in Italy he has retained his _cognomen_. He is now at _Modena_ awaiting the recovery of his _Cicerone_, when he intends to visit _Genoa_ and _Milan_.
* * * * *
The _obesity_ of the _florid_-faced prebendary is observed to increase with his _prebend_.
* * * * *
I have heard much of the _gamins_ of _Gotham_, but I never realized what the _gallows_-deserving rascals were till I settled in New York City. I opened business as a _pharmaceutist_ on a corner that was a favorite _haunt_ of theirs. Such a crowd of _tatterdemalions_ as stood in front of my show-window the first day I made my display of _Parisian_ fancy goods, baffles description. One had the _hooping_ cough, and every now and then would hoop till the _perspiration_ rolled down his face; then he would shriek out the daily _newspapers_, in a voice like a _calliope_. One dirty-faced _gourmand_ ate _papaws_ till he had to _gape_ for breath, and would shoot the seeds and throw the skins at his _hundred_ comrades, half of them coming in my front door. Another, dressed in ragged _jean_, his face covered with _soot_, played the _jew's-harp_ hour after hour, with as much pride in his ability as _Paganini_ at his violin. Another, a tall, _jaundice_ visaged youth with an _embryo_ beard of about a dozen hairs, covered nearly to his heels with his great-grandfather's _surtout_, in the _lapel_ of which was pinned a death's-head, danced upon the iron cellar door till it roared like distant artillery.
Then there were many other "_partners_" bearing such _sobriquets_ as "Sore Snoot," "Pig Eye," "Limpy," etc., _improvising irrational_ songs, boxing, _wrestling_, indulging in _raillery_ and _ribald_ jests, pitching _quoits_, _meawing_ like cats, howling at my _patrons_ and driving reputable _patronage_ away. Every now and then they would send in little, _saucy_, _precocious_ urchins, who offered to _patronize_ me by asking for two cents' worth of _jujube_ paste, _tolu_ or _licorice_, or some _Samaritan_ _salve_ for Jim Biles' sore nose. At last, when the sun had reached the _horizon_, as a _finale_ of the day's _progress_, one of the young villains hurled a bowlder through my French plate-glass, which, after its flight through a lot of _citrate_ of magnesia, _cochineal_ and _quinine_, finally spilled a large bottle of red ink all over my new _pharmacopœia_. Springing over the _débris_, I rushed to the door with _implacable_ anger flashing from my eyes. But one glance at that _imperturbable_ crowd showed me how _impotent_ I was. One of them with _placid_ countenance and _stolid_ indifference simply accosted me with, "Say, Mister, are you going to see the '_Naiad_ Queen' to-night?"
I left that store in less than a _fortnight_.
* * * * *
The _comptroller_ was appointed by the _government_ upon the supposition that he was _conversant_ with the details of _finance_; but he was only a _mediocre financier_ and was not aware of the _deficit_ in the _finances_, until the conscience-stricken _defalcating_ officer acknowledged his _defalcation_.
* * * * *
The emigrants to the _frontier_ chose a beautiful spot for their settlement; but they found that the wells dug there and on the _contiguous prairies_ had a _saline_ taste; so they were obliged to bring water from the _mountainous_ region beyond, by means of a _conduit_.
* * * * *
From the _congeries_ presented to the professor, he, at his _leisure_, _isolated_ each genus and gave _generic_ names to each; and at the next meeting of the _lyceum_, he solicited attention to his _data_ and the _truths_ he had deduced.
* * * * *
The handsome _contour_ of _Madame_ G's face has been spoiled by an _excrescence_ like a _raspberry_ on her _nasal_ organ.
* * * * *
Young _Philemon_ after reading _Lalla Rookh_, _Lara_, Don _Juan_, The _Giaour_, the productions of Mrs. _Hemans_, and a few others, was seized with the determination to become a poet; but he has only succeeded in becoming a _poetaster_, without any ideas of _prosody_. More _metrical_ excellence and sense can be found in the _distich_:
"Mary, Mary, quite _contrary_, How does your garden grow?"