vi PREFACE. 



6. As regards orthography, to do what Professor Whitney, in the preface to his great work, 

 The Century Dictionary, says is the duty of the dictionary-maker : — 



" The language is struggling toward a more consistent and phonetic spelling, 

 and it is proper in disputed and doubtful cases to cast the influence of the dic- 

 tionary in favor of this movement, both by its own usage in the body of the text, 

 and at the head of articles by the order of forms, or by the selection of the form 

 under which the word shall be treated." 



More than this I have not attempted to do, and not to have done this much would have 

 been distinctly wrong. The lexicographer may not impose or command, but in the interest of 

 true and prudent progress he may suggest and advise. Both spellings are noted of words in 

 dispute, and one is of course at liberty to accept that which he thinks best. Those who prefer to 

 follow the older practice have against them all the best philologists, such authorities as Professor 

 Whitney, Professor Skeat, the editors of the Standard, and of other great Dictionaries. Gradual, 

 careful phonetic progress is a duty we all owe to our profession. 



I have usually recommended that in medicine the diphthongs a and ce be supplanted by e ; 

 such usage is already well established as regards many words, and the suggestion is in strict 

 harmony with etymology and the spirit of the language. We do not spell such words as 

 gangrene, cether, economy, (Eternal, penalty, mediceval, solcecism, primceval, as here written, 

 and the redundant diphthong should not be retained in diarrhoea, hemorrhage, oedema, celiotomy, 

 poediatric, etc. Why is the change right in one instance and wrong in the other? 



In the spelling of certain chemic words, the advice of The American Association for the 

 Advancement of Science has, as a rule, been followed, and seems to be in the line of cautious 

 and wise progress. The unanimous acceptance and practice of all these recommendations by 

 the American Medical Editors' Association constitute a gratifying proof of progressiveness 

 and freedom from irrational prejudice. 



7. To indicate the best pronunciation of words by the simplest and most easily understood 

 phonetic method. The plan I have used is simple and little liable to mistaking. The sylla- 

 bification has no significance except to show the pronunciation, and in this the natural English 

 common usage and power of letters are followed. Thus, in all but a few instances, the use of 

 diacritic marks and vexatious signs or symbols is avoided. When a vowel stands alone or 

 at the end of a syllable it has its natural long sound : a, as in male ; e, as in mete ; i, as in 

 mile ; o, as in mole ; u, as in mule ; when preceding, or between, consonants, the vowels have 

 their natural short sounds, unless occasionally the use of the diacritic mark gives them the 

 long sound, as at {ate), ds (ose), it (ite). In a few instances the sign, u has been used 

 over a, as in marriage, to distinguish the sound from that of a, as in harm. When a has the 

 sound of ah, it has generally been written ah. In such words as cystotomy, acidity, and the like, 

 the pronunciation of the final vowel-sound is indicated by e, as being the simplest representa- 

 tion of the common sound not otherwise easily expressed phonetically. When j- has the sound 

 of 2 it is indicated by z. The pronunciation of some foreign words has been approximated by 

 devices readily comprehended. 



It is impossible to adequately express my deep sense of gratitude to those who have aided 

 me in the preparation and proof-reading of this volume. Dr. C. W. Greene, the experienced 

 philologist, also Dr. W. A. N. Dorland, Professor Charles S. Dolley, Dr. A. A. Eshner, and 

 Professor Burt G. Wilder, have been most self-sacrificing, and to their scientific zeal, literary 

 exj>erience, and tireless good-will those who find the book useful will be indebted. To Dr. 

 Dolley, the well-known biologist, belongs unstinted praise for the preparation of the definitions 

 of biologic terms, the table of Bacteria, and that of Parasites, as well as for a number of 



