Talk - Medical Etymology: The Language of Medicine

The Cambridge Medical Humanities Society is excited to announce its first talk of the term. Join us at 6pm on Friday 4th November in the Main Lecture Theatre in St John's College for wine, soft drinks and snacks. The talk will start at 6.30pm. Further details can be found on our Facebook event and in the blurb below.

Ever wondered what a crab has to do with oncology? What bile has to do with depression? Where the word testis comes from? Or what the movie 'The Hangover' should really be called? Unlikely. Find out the answers to these useless questions and many more at our latest talk entitled 'The Language of Medicine'. If you've ever wanted to impress your consultant with a casual knowledge of Latin and Greek, this is the talk for you. We will cover a brief history of medical language, a cheat's guide to working out the origins of medical terms, and a selection of weird and wonderful medical etymologies, for lifelong use in pub quizzes, or awkward ward rounds.

As William Osler said 'The young doctor should look about early for an avocation, a pastime, that will take him away from patients, pills, and potions…' Let this be your avocation.

Alexandra Caulfield has degrees in Classics and Medicine, and is known for being overenthusiastic about medical etymology.