doorknob v.— «The request usually comes after Belkin is about to walk out of the examining room. Doctors have a name for this: Doorknobbing. Metcalf said patients often “doorknob” when they’re afraid to reveal the purpose of their visit. “Patients...
umble n.— «Even if you have layered on the clothes, you may not be immune from a condition Klegg likes to refer to as “the umbles.” These are the symptoms of hypothermia. “People start stumbling, fumbling, mumbling or grumbling,” the physician said...
stork mark n.— «Our baby has dark red hand marks on her cheek. Do these marks go away?…Yes, if they are stork marks, but no, if they are birthmarks. Bring this matter to the attention of your physician.» —“How to Keep Well” by T.R. Van...
infectobesity n.— «One year ago, the idea that microbes might cause obesity gained a foothold when the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Louisiana created the nation’s first department of viruses and obesity. It is headed by Nikhil...
pimping v.— «When I started my third year, I thought that pimping was the most horrible thing on Earth.…You are asked questions in front of your peers by the person who makes out your grades in surgery. It’s the worst because you can’t go anywhere...
heroic dose n.— «An ounce in twenty-four hours, and a drachm at a dose, are heroic prescriptions, and not to be generally imitated.…In cases wherein the physician might be tempted to overstep nature with these heroic doses of opium, or tobacco, do...
