In writing about the late Dr Maurice B. Strauss, others have rightly stressed his extraordinary role as a teacher.1,2 It seems worthwhile to record the substance of what was probably his last "teaching session," which occurred with the two of us—both students of his throughout our medical careers—less than a week before he died.
As is generally known, the inoperable esophageal carcinoma that led to Dr Strauss' death was only diagnosed when pain in the upper part of his chest and variable fever developed in February 1974. For several weeks thereafter, he was in such severe pain and was at times so mentally clouded as a result of the pain (and probably the high fever) that he avoided all direct contacts with anyone other than his wife and his immediate physicians. He remained at home, as was his strong desire, and spent what time he could arranging his affairs