chapter-4

HOW TO TALK ABOUT DOCTORS

(Sessions 4–6)

TEASER PREVIEW

What is the title of the doctor who specializes in:

internal medicine?

female ailments?

pregnancy and childbirth?

the treatment and care of infants and young children?

skin disorders?

diseases of the eye?

heart problems?

the brain and nervous system?

mental and emotional disturbances?

SESSION 4

In this chapter we discuss ten medical specialists—what they do,

how they do it, what they are called.

IDEAS

1. what’s wrong with you?

To find out what ails you and why, this specialist gives you a

thorough physical examination, using an impressive array of tests: X

ray, blood chemistry, urinalysis, cardiogram, and so on.

An internist

2. female troubles?

This specialist treats the female reproductive and sexual organs.

A gynecologist

3. having a baby?

This specialist delivers babies and takes care of the mother during

and immediately after the period of her pregnancy.

An obstetrician

4. is your baby ill?

You know the common childhood maladies—mumps, whooping

cough, chicken pox, measles. This specialist limits his practice to

youngsters, taking care of babies directly after birth, supervising

their diet and watching over their growth and development, giving

them the series of inoculations that has done so much to decrease

infant mortality, and soothing their anxious parents.

A pediatrician

5. skin clear?

You have heard the classic riddle: “What is the best use for

pigskin?” Answer: “To keep the pig together.” Human skin has a

similar purpose: it is, if we get down to fundamentals, what keeps us

all in one piece. And our outer covering, like so many of our

internal organs, is subject to diseases and infections of various

kinds, running the gamut from simple acne and eczemas through

impetigo, psoriasis, and cancer. There is a specialist who treats all

such skin diseases.

A dermatologist

6. eyes okay?

The physician whose specialty is disorders of vision (myopia,

astigmatism, cataracts, glaucoma, etc.) may prescribe glasses,

administer drugs, or perform surgery.

An ophthalmologist

7. how are your bones?

This specialist deals with the skeletal structure of the body,

treating bone fractures, slipped discs, clubfoot, curvature of the

spine, dislocations of the hip, etc., and may correct a condition

either by surgery or by the use of braces or other appliances.

An orthopedist

8. does your heart go pitter-patter?

This specialist treats diseases of the heart and circulatory system.

A cardiologist

9. is your brain working?

This physician specializes in the treatment of disorders of the

brain, spinal cord, and the rest of the nervous system.

A neurologist

10. are you neurotic?

This specialist attempts to alleviate mental and emotional

disturbances by means of various techniques, occasionally drugs or

electroshock, more often private or group psychotherapy.

A psychiatrist

USING THE WORDS

Can you pronounce the words?

Words take on a new color if you hear them in your own voice;

they begin to belong to you more personally, more intimately, than

if you merely hear or read them. As always, therefore, say the words

aloud to take the first, crucial step toward complete mastery.

1. internist

in-TURN′-ist

2. gynecologist

gīn (or jin or jīn)-Ə-KOL′-Ə-jist

3. obstetrician

ob-stƏ-TRISH′-Ən

4. pediatrician

pee′-dee-Ə-TRISH′-Ən

5. dermatologist

dur-mƏ-TOL′-Ə-jist

6. ophthalmologist

off-thal-MOL′-Ə-jist

7. orthopedist

awr-thƏ-PEE′-dist

8. cardiologist

kahr-dee-OL′-Ə-jist

9. neurologist

noor-OL′-Ə-jist

10. psychiatrist

sī (or sƏ)-KĪ′-Ə-trist

Can you work with the words?

Match each doctor to the field.

FIELDS

DOCTORS

1. mental or emotional

disturbances

a. internist

2. nervous system

b. gynecologist

3. skin

c. obstetrician

4. diagnosis; internal organs

d. pediatrician

5. infants

e. dermatologist

6. female reproductive organs

f. ophthalmologist

7. eyes

g. orthopedist

8. heart

h. cardiologist

9. pregnancy, childbirth

i. neurologist

KEY: 1–j, 2–i, 3–e, 4–a, 5–d, 6–b, 7–f, 8–h, 9–c, 10–g

Do you understand the words?

1. Is an internist an expert in diagnosis?

YES NO

2. Is a gynecologist familiar with the female reproductive organs?

YES NO

3. Does an obstetrician specialize in diseases of childhood?

YES NO

4. Does a pediatrician deliver babies?

YES NO

5. If you had a skin disease, would you visit a dermatologist?

YES NO

6. If you had trouble with your vision would you visit an

orthopedist?

YES NO

7. Is an ophthalmologist an eye specialist?

YES NO

8. Does a cardiologist treat bone fractures?

YES NO

9. Is a neurologist a nerve specialist?

YES NO

10. If you were nervous, tense, overly anxious, constantly fearful for

no apparent reasons, would a psychiatrist be the specialist to see?

YES NO

KEY: 1–yes, 2–yes, 3–no, 4–no, 5–yes, 6–no, 7–yes, 8–no, 9–yes,

10–yes

Can you recall the words?

Write the name of the specialist you might visit or be referred to:

1. for a suspected brain disorder

1. N_________________

2. for a thorough internal checkup

2. I_________________

3. if you have a skin disease

3. D_________________

4. if you have a heart problem

4. C_________________

5. if you are tense, fearful, insecure

5. P_________________

6. if you are pregnant

6. O_________________

7. for some disorder of the female reproductive organs

7. G_________________

8. for a checkup for your two-month-old child

8. P_________________

9. for faulty vision

9. O_________________

10. for curvature of the spine

10. O_________________

SESSION 5

ORIGINS AND RELATED WORDS

1. inside you

Internist and internal derive from the same Latin root, internus,

inside. The internist is a specialist in internal medicine, in the

exploration of your insides. This physician determines the state of

your internal organs in order to discover what’s happening within

your body to cause the troubles you’re complaining of.

Do not confuse the internist with the intern (also spelled interne),

who is a medical graduate serving an apprenticeship inside a

hospital.

2. doctors for women

The word gynecologist is built on Greek gyne, woman, plus logos,

science; etymologically, gynecology is the science (in actual use, the

medical science) of women. Adjective: gynecological (gīn [or jin or

jīn]-Ə-kƏ-LOJ′-Ə-kƏl).

Obstetrician derives from Latin obstetrix, midwife, which in turn

has its source in a Latin verb meaning to stand—midwives stand in

front of the woman in labor to aid in the delivery of the infant.

The suffix -ician, as in obstetrician, physician, musician, magician,

electrician, etc., means expert.

Obstetrics (ob-STET′-riks) has only within the last 150 years

become a respectable specialty. No further back than 1834,

Professor William P. Dewees assumed the first chair of obstetrics at

the University of Pennsylvania and had to brave considerable

medical contempt and ridicule as a result—the delivery of children

was then considered beneath the dignity of the medical profession.

Adjective: obstetric (ob-STET′-rik) or obstetrical (ob-STET′-rƏ-kƏl).

3. children

Pediatrician is a combination of Greek paidos, child; iatreia,

medical healing; and -ician, expert.

Pediatrics (pee-dee-AT′-riks), then, is by etymology the medical

healing of a child. Adjective: pediatric (pee-dee-AT′-rik).

(The ped- you see in words like pedestal, pedal, and pedestrian is

from the Latin pedis, foot, and despite the identical spelling in

English has no relationship to Greek paidos.)

Pedagogy (PED-Ə-gō′-jee), which combines paidos with agogos,

leading, is, etymologically, the leading of children. And to what do

you lead them? To learning, to development, to growth, to maturity.

From the moment of birth, infants are led by adults—they are

taught, first by parents and then by teachers, to be self-sufficient, to

fit into the culture in which they are born. Hence, pedagogy, which

by derivation means the leading of a child, refers actually to the

principles and methods of teaching. College students majoring in

education take certain standard pedagogy courses—the history of

education; educational psychology; the psychology of adolescents;

principles of teaching; etc. Adjective: pedagogical (ped-Ə-GOJ′-Ə-kƏl).

A pedagogue (PED′-Ə-gog) is versed in pedagogy. But pedagogue has

an unhappy history. From its original, neutral meaning of teacher, it

has deteriorated to the point where it refers, today, to a narrow-

minded, strait-laced, old-fashioned, dogmatic teacher. It is a word of

contempt and should be used with caution.

Like pedagogue, demagogue (DEM′-Ə-gog) has also deteriorated in

meaning. By derivation a leader (agogos) of the people (demos), a

demagogue today is actually one who attempts, in essence, to mislead

the people, a politician who foments discontent among the masses,

rousing them to fever pitch by wild oratory, in an attempt to be

voted into office.

Once elected, demagogues use political power to further their own

personal ambitions or fortunes.

Many “leaders” of the past and present, in countries around the

world, have been accused of demagoguery (dem-Ə-GOG′-Ə-ree).

Adjective: demagogic (dem-Ə-GOJ′-ik).

4. skin-deep

The dermatologist, whose specialty is dermatology (dur-mƏ-TOL′-Ə-

jee), is so named from Greek derma, skin. Adjective: dermatological

(dur′-mƏ-tƏ-LOJ′-Ə-kƏl).

See the syllables derma in any English word and you will know

there is some reference to skin—for example, a hypodermic (hī-pƏ-

DUR′-mik) needle penetrates under (Greek, hypos) the skin; the

epidermis (ep-Ə-DUR′-mis) is the outermost layer of skin; a taxidermist

(TAKS′-Ə-dur-mist), whose business is taxidermy (TAKS′-Ə-dur-mee),

prepares, stuffs, and mounts the skins of animals; a pachyderm (PAK′-

Ə-durm) is an animal with an unusually thick skin, like an elephant,

hippopotamus, or rhinoceros; and dermatitis (dur-mƏ-TĪ′-tis) is the

general name for any skin inflammation, irritation, or infection.

5. the eyes have it

Ophthalmologist—note the ph preceding th—is from Greek

ophthalmos, eye, plus logos, science or study. The specialty is

ophthalmology (off′-thal-MOL′-Ə-jee), the adjective ophthalmological

(off′-thal-mƏ-LOJ′-Ə-kƏl).

An earlier title for this physician, still occasionally used, is oculist

(OK′-yƏ-list), from Latin oculus, eye, a root on which the following

English words are also built:

1. ocular (OK′-yƏ-lƏr)—an adjective that refers to the eye

2. monocle (MON′-Ə-kƏl)—a lens for one (monos) eye, sported by

characters in old movies as a symbol of the British so-called upper

class

3. binoculars (bƏ-NOK′-yƏ-lƏrz)—field glasses that increase the

range of two (bi-) eyes

4. And, strangely enough, inoculate (in-OK′-yƏ-layt′), a word

commonly misspelled with two n’s. When you are inoculated against

a disease, an “eye,” puncture, or hole is made in your skin, through

which serum is injected.

Do not confuse the ophthalmologist or oculist, a medical specialist,

with two other practitioners who deal with the eye—the optometrist

(op-TOM′-Ə-trist) and optician (op-TISH′-Ən).

Optometrists are not physicians, and do not perform surgery or

administer drugs; they measure vision, test for glaucoma, and

prescribe and fit glasses.

Opticians fill an optometrist’s or ophthalmologist’s prescription,

grinding lenses according to specifications; they do not examine

patients.

Optometrist combines Greek opsis, optikos, sight or vision, with

metron, measurement—the optometrist, by etymology, is one who

measures vision. The specialty is optometry (op-TOM′-Ə-tree).

Optician is built on opsis, optikos, plus -ician, expert. The specialty

is optics (OP′-tiks).

Adjectives: optometric (op-tƏ-MET′-rik) or optometrical (op-tƏ-

MET′-rƏ-kƏl), optical (OP′-tƏ-kƏl).

REVIEW OF ETYMOLOGY

PREFIX, ROOT, SUFFIX

MEANING

1. internus

inside

EXAMPLE ___________

2. gyne

woman

EXAMPLE ___________

3. obstetrix

midwife

EXAMPLE ___________

4. paidos

child

EXAMPLE ___________

5. pedis

foot

EXAMPLE ___________

6. agogos

leading, leader

EXAMPLE ___________

7. demos

people

EXAMPLE ___________

8. derma

skin

EXAMPLE ___________

9. hypos

under

EXAMPLE ___________

10. ophthalmos

eye

EXAMPLE ___________

11. oculus

eye

EXAMPLE ___________

12. monos

one

EXAMPLE ___________

13. bi-

two

EXAMPLE ___________

14. -ician

expert

EXAMPLE ___________

15. opsis, optikos

vision, sight

EXAMPLE ___________

16. metron

measurement

EXAMPLE ___________

USING THE WORDS

Can you pronounce the words? (I)

1. intern (e)

IN′-turn

2. gynecology

gīn-Ə-KOL′-Ə-jee, jin-Ə-KOL′-Ə-jee,

or jīn-Ə-KOL′-Ə-jee

3. gynecological

gīn-Ə-kƏ-LOJ′-Ə-kƏl, jin-Ə-kƏ-LOJ′-

Ə-kƏl or jīn-Ə-kƏ-LOJ-Ə-kƏl

4. obstetrics

ob-STET′-riks

5. obstetric

ob-STET′-rik

6. obstetrical

ob-STET′-rƏ-kƏl

7. pediatrics

pee-dee-AT′-riks

8. pediatric

pee-dee-AT′-rik

9. pedagogy

PED′-Ə-gō-jee

10. pedagogical

ped-Ə-GOJ′-Ə-kƏl

11. pedagogue

PED′-Ə-gog

12. demagogue

DEM′-Ə-gog

13. demagoguery

dem-Ə-GOG′-Ə-ree

14. demagogic

dem-Ə-GOJ′-ik

Can you pronounce the words? (II)

1. dermatology

dur-mƏ-TOL′-Ə-jee

2. dermatological

dur′-mƏ-tƏ-LOJ′-Ə-kƏl

3. hypodermic

hī-pƏ-DURM′-ik

4. epidermis

ep-Ə-DUR′-mis

5. taxidermist

TAKS′-Ə-dur-mist

6. taxidermy

TAKS′-Ə-dur-mee

7. pachyderm

PAK′-Ə-durm

8. dermatitis

dur-mƏ-TĪ′-tis

9. ophthalmology

off-thal-MOL′-Ə-jee

10. ophthalmological

off′-thal-mƏ-LOJ′-Ə-kƏl

11. oculist

OK′-yƏ-list

12. ocular

OK′-yƏ-lƏr

13. monocle

MON′-Ə-kƏl

14. binoculars

bƏ-NOK′-yƏ-lƏrz

15. inoculate

in-OK′-yƏ-layt′

16. optometrist

op-TOM′-Ə-trist

17. optometry

op-TOM′-Ə-tree

18. optometric

op-tƏ-MET′-rik

19. optometrical

op-tƏ-MET′-rƏ-kƏl

20. optician

op-TISH′-Ən

21. optics

OP′-tiks

22. optical

OP-tƏ-kƏl

Can you work with the words? (I)

1. gynecology

a. principles of teaching

2. obstetrics

b. stuffing of skins of animals

3. pediatrics

c. specialty dealing with the

delivery of newborn infants

4. pedagogy

d. stirring up discontent among

the masses

5. demagoguery

e. treatment of skin diseases

6. dermatology

f. specialty dealing with women’s

diseases

7. taxidermy

g. specialty dealing with the

treatment of children

KEY: 1–f, 2–c, 3–g, 4–a, 5–d, 6–e, 7–b

Can you work with the words? (II)

1. hypodermic

a. elephant

2. epidermis

b. eye doctor

3. pachyderm

c. under the skin

4. dermatitis

d. one who measures vision

5. ophthalmologist

e. lens grinder

6. optometrist

f. outer layer of skin

7. optician

g. inflammation of the skin

KEY: 1–c, 2–f, 3–a, 4–g, 5–b, 6–d, 7–e

Do you understand the words?

1. Does a treatise on obstetrics deal with childbirth?

YES NO

2. Does gynecology deal with the female reproductive organs?

YES NO

3. Is pediatrics concerned with the diseases of old age?

YES NO

4. Does pedagogy refer to teaching?

YES NO

5. Is a pedagogue an expert teacher?

YES NO

6. Is a demagogue interested in the welfare of the people?

YES NO

7. Is a lion a pachyderm?

YES NO

8. Is the epidermis one of the layers of the skin?

YES NO

9. Is dermatitis an inflammation of one of the limbs?

YES NO

10. Is a taxidermist a medical practitioner?

YES NO

11. Is an ophthalmologist a medical doctor?

YES NO

12. Is an optometrist a medical doctor?

YES NO

13. Does an optician prescribe glasses?

KEY: 1–yes, 2–yes, 3–no, 4–yes, 5–no, 6–no, 7–no, 8–yes, 9–no, 10–

no, 11–yes, 12–no, 13–no

Can you recall the words?

1. specialty of child delivery

1. O_________________

2. outer layer of skin

2. E_________________

3. principles of teaching

3. P_________________

4. thick-skinned animal

4. P_________________

5. skin inflammation

5. D_________________

6. one who foments political discontent

6. D_________________

7. one who sells optical equipment

7. O_________________

8. medical graduate serving his apprenticeship

8. I_________________

9. treatment of childhood diseases

9. P_________________

10. practice of stirring up political dissatisfaction for purely personal

gain

10. D_________________

11. one who stuffs the skins of animals

11. T_________________

12. another title for ophthalmologist

12. O_________________

SESSION 6

ORIGINS AND RELATED WORDS

1. the straighteners

The orthopedist is so called from the Greek roots orthos, straight or

correct, and paidos, child. The orthopedist, by etymology, straightens

children. The term was coined in 1741 by the author of a textbook

on the prevention of childhood diseases—at that time the correction

of spinal curvature in children was a main concern of practitioners

of orthopedics (awr-thƏ-PEE′-diks).

Today the specialty treats deformities, injuries, and diseases of the

bones and joints (of adults as well as children, of course), often by

surgical procedures.

Adjective: orthopedic (awr-thƏ-PEE′-dik).

Orthodontia (awr-thƏ-DON′-shƏ), the straightening of teeth, is built

on orthos plus odontos, tooth. The orthodontist (awr-thƏ-DON′-tist)

specializes in improving your “bite,” retracting “buck teeth,” and by

means of braces and other techniques seeing to it that every molar,

incisor, bicuspid, etc. is exactly where it belongs in your mouth.

Adjective: orthodontic (awr-thƏ-DON′-tik).

2. the heart

Cardiologist combines Greek kardia, heart, and logos, science.

The specialty is cardiology (kahr-dee-OL′-Ə-jee), the adjective

cardiological (kahr′-dee-Ə-LOJ′-Ə-kƏl).

cardiac

(KAHR′-dee-ak)

condition

refers

some

malfunctioning of the heart; a cardiogram (KAHR′-dee-Ə-gram′) is an

electrically produced record of the heartbeat. The instrument that

produces this record is called a cardiograph (KAHR′-dee-Ə-graf′).

3. the nervous system

Neurologist derives from Greek neuron, nerve, plus logos, science.

Specialty: neurology (n

ŏŏ

r-OL′-Ə-jee); adjective: neurological (n

ŏŏ

r-Ə-

LOJ′-Ə-kƏl).

Neuralgia (n

ŏŏ

r-AL′-ja) is acute pain along the nerves and their

branches; the word comes from neuron plus algos, pain.

Neuritis (n

ŏŏ

r-Ī-tis), is inflammation of the nerves.

Neurosis (n

ŏŏ

r-Ō′-sis), combining neuron with -osis, a suffix

meaning abnormal or diseased condition, is not, despite its etymology,

a disorder of the nerves, but rather, as described by the late Eric

Berne, a psychiatrist, “… an illness characterized by excessive use

energy

for

unproductive

purposes

that

personality

development is hindered or stopped. A man who spends most of his

time worrying about his health, counting his money, plotting

revenge, or washing his hands, can hope for little emotional

growth.”

Neurotic (n

ŏŏ

r-OT′-ik) is both the adjective form and the term for a

person suffering from neurosis.

4. the mind

A neurosis is not a form of mental unbalance. A full-blown mental

disorder is called a psychosis (sī-KŌ′-sis), a word built on Greek

psyche, spirit, soul, or mind, plus -osis.

A true psychotic (sī-KOT′-ik) has lost contact with reality—at least

with reality as most of us perceive it, though no doubt psychotic

(note that this word, like neurotic, is both a noun and an adjective)

people have their own form of reality.

Built on psyche plus iatreia, medical healing, a psychiatrist by

etymology is a mind-healer. The specialty is psychiatry (sī- or sƏ-KĪ-

Ə-tree); the adjective is psychiatric (sī-kee-AT′-rik).

Pediatrics, as you know, is also built on iatreia, as is podiatry (pƏ-

DĪ′-Ə-tree), discussed in the next chapter, and geriatrics (jair′-ee-AT′-

riks), the specialty dealing with the particular medical needs of the

elderly. (This word combines iatreia with Greek geras, old age.)

The specialist is a geriatrician (jair′-ee-Ə-TRISH′-Ən), the adjective

is geriatric (jair′-ee-AT′-rik).

REVIEW OF ETYMOLOGY

ROOT, SUFFIX

MEANING

1. orthos

straight, correct

EXAMPLE _____________

2. paidos (ped-)

child

EXAMPLE _____________

3. odontos

tooth

EXAMPLE _____________

4. kardia

heart

EXAMPLE _____________

5. logos

science; study

EXAMPLE _____________

6. neuron

nerve

EXAMPLE _____________

7. algos

pain

EXAMPLE _____________

8. -osis

abnormal or diseased condition

EXAMPLE _____________

9. -itis

inflammation

EXAMPLE _____________

10. psyche

spirit, soul, mind

EXAMPLE _____________

11. iatreia

medical healing

EXAMPLE _____________

12. geras

old age

EXAMPLE _____________

USING THE WORDS

Can you pronounce the words (I)

1. orthopedics

awr-thƏ-PEE′-diks

2. orthopedic

awr-thƏ-PEE′-dik

3. orthodontia

awr-thƏ-DON′-shƏ

4. orthodontist

awr-thƏ-DON′-tist

5. orthodontic

awr-thƏ-DON′-tik

6. cardiology

kahr-dee-OL′-Ə-jee

7. cardiological

kahr′-dee-Ə-LOJ′-Ə-kƏl

8. cardiac

KAHR′-dee-ak

9. cardiogram

KAHR′-dee-Ə-gram′

10. cardiograph

KAHR′-dee-Ə-graf′

Can you pronounce the words? (II)

1. neurology

ŏŏ

r-OL′-Ə-jee

2. neurological

ŏŏ

r-Ə-LOJ′-Ə-kƏl

3. neuralgia

ŏŏ

r-AL′-jƏ

4. neuritis

ŏŏ

r-Ī′-tis

5. neurosis

ŏŏ

r-Ō′-sis

6. neurotic

ŏŏ

r-OT′-ik

7. psychosis

sī-KŌ′-sis

8. psychotic

sī-KOT′-ik

9. psychiatry

sī- or sƏ-KĪ′-Ə-tree

10. psychiatric

sī-kee-AT′-rik

11. geriatrics

jair′-ee-AT′-riks

12. geriatrician

jair′-ee-Ə-TRISH′-Ən

13. geriatric

jair′-ee-AT′-rik

Can you work with the words? (I)

1. orthopedics

a. nerve pain

2. orthodontia

b. specialty dealing with medical

problems of the elderly

3. neuralgia

c. straightening of teeth

4. neuritis

d. inflammation of the nerves

5. geriatrics

e. treatment of skeletal

deformities

KEY: 1–e, 2–c, 3–a, 4–d, 5–b

Can you work with the words? (II)

1. cardiogram

a. record of heart beats

2. cardiograph

b. mental unbalance

3. neurosis

c. emotional disturbance

4. psychosis

d. treatment of personality

disorders

5. psychiatry

e. instrument for recording

heartbeats

KEY: 1–a, 2–e, 3–c, 4–b, 5–d

Do you understand the words?

1. A gynecologist’s patients are mostly men.

TRUE FALSE

2. Ophthalmology is the study of eye diseases.

TRUE FALSE

3. Orthopedics is the specialty dealing with the bones and joints.

TRUE FALSE

4. A cardiac patient has a heart ailment.

TRUE FALSE

5. A person with a bad “bite” may profit from orthodontia.

TRUE FALSE

6. Neuralgia is a disease of the bones.

TRUE FALSE

7. A neurosis is the same as a psychosis.

TRUE FALSE

8. Neuritis is inflammation of the nerves.

TRUE FALSE

9. Psychiatry is a medical specialty that deals with mental,

emotional, and personality disturbances.

TRUE FALSE

10. A cardiograph is a device for recording heartbeats.

TRUE FALSE

11. Psychiatric treatment is designed to relieve tensions, fears, and

insecurities.

TRUE FALSE

12. A doctor who specializes in pediatrics has very old patients.

KEY: 1–F, 2–T, 3–T, 4–T, 5–T, 6–F, 7–F, 8–T, 9–T, 10–T, 11–T, 12–

F, 13–F

Can you recall the words?

1. specialist who straightens teeth

1. O____________

2. nerve pain

2. N____________

3. medical specialty dealing with bones and joints

3. O____________

4. medical specialty dealing with emotional disturbances and

mental illness

4. P____________

5. inflammation of the nerves

5. N____________

6. emotional or personality disorder

6. N____________

7. mentally unbalanced

7. P____________

8. pertaining to the heart

8. C____________

9. specialty dealing with medical problems of the elderly

9. G____________

10. instrument that records heart action

10. C____________

11. record produced by such an instrument

11. C____________

KEY: 1-orthodontist, 2–neuralgia, 3–orthopedics, 4–psychiatry, 5–

neuritis, 6–neurosis, 7–psychotic, 8–cardiac, 9–geriatrics, 10–

cardiograph, 11–cardiogram

CHAPTER REVIEW

A. Do you recognize the words?

1. Specialist in female ailments:

(a) obstetrician, (b) gynecologist, (c) dermatologist

2. Specialist in children’s diseases:

(a) orthopedist, (b) pediatrician, (c) internist

3. Specialist in eye diseases:

(a) cardiologist, (b) opthalmologist, (c) optician

4. Specialist in emotional disorders:

(a) neurologist, (b) demagogue, (c) psychiatrist

5. Pertaining to medical treatment of the elderly:

(a) neurological, (b) obstetric, (c) geriatric

6. Straightening of teeth:

(a) orthodontia, (b) orthopedic, (c) optometry

7. Personality disorder:

(a) neuritis, (b), neuralgia, (c) neurosis

8. Mentally unbalanced:

(a) neurotic, (b) psychotic, (c) cardiac

9. Principles of teaching:

(a) demagoguery, (b) pedagogy, (c) psychosis

KEY: 1–b, 2–b, 3–b, 4–c, 5–c, 6–a, 7–c, 8–b, 9–b

B. Can you recognize roots?

ROOT

MEANING

1. internus

________________

EXAMPLE internist

2. paidos (ped-)

________________

EXAMPLE pediatrician

3. pedis

________________

EXAMPLE pedestrian

4. agogos

________________

EXAMPLE pedagogue

5. demos

________________

EXAMPLE demagogue

6. derma

________________

EXAMPLE dermatologist

7. hypos

________________

EXAMPLE hypodermic

8. ophthalmos

________________

EXAMPLE ophthalmologist

9. oculus

________________

EXAMPLE monocle

10. opsis, optikos

________________

EXAMPLE optician

11. metron

________________

EXAMPLE optometrist

12. orthos

________________

EXAMPLE orthopedist

13. odontos

________________

EXAMPLE orthodontist

14. kardia

________________

EXAMPLE cardiologist

15. logos

________________

EXAMPLE anthropologist

16. neuron

________________

EXAMPLE neurologist

17. algos

________________

EXAMPLE neuralgia

18. psyche

________________

EXAMPLE psychiatrist

19. iatreia

________________

EXAMPLE psychiatry

20. geras

________________

EXAMPLE geriatrics

KEY: 1–inside, 2–child, 3–foot, 4–leading, 5–people, 6–skin, 7–

under, 8–eye, 9–eye, 10–view, vision, sight, 11–measurement,

12–straight, correct, 13–tooth, 14–heart, 15–science, study,

16–nerve, 17–pain, 18–mind, 19–medical healing, 20–old age

TEASER QUESTIONS FOR THE AMATEUR

ETYMOLOGIST

1. Thinking of the roots odontos and paidos (spelled ped- in

English), figure out the meaning of pedodontia:

__________________________________

2. Recall the roots kardia and algos. What is the meaning of

cardialgia? __________________________________

3. Of odontalgia? __________________________________

4. Nostos is the Greek word for a return (home). Can you combine

this root with algos, pain, to construct the English word meaning

homesickness? __________________________________

(Answers in Chapter 18)

TWO KEYS TO SUCCESS: SELF-DISCIPLINE AND

PERSISTENCE

You can achieve a superior vocabulary in a phenomenally short time

—given self-discipline and persistence.

The greatest aid in building self-discipline is, as I have said, a

matter of devising a practical and comfortable schedule for yourself

and then keeping to that schedule.

Make sure to complete at least one session each time you pick up

the book, and always decide exactly when you will continue with