This article is only available in the PDF format. Download the PDF to view the article, as well as its associated figures and tables.
To the Editor.—We have again reached that time of year when the above bromide will be repeated at every national surgical meeting. This to be followed closely by—"I too wish to compliment the authors," "... have made a very important contribution, etc," "... appreciate the honor of discussing the presentation of this excellent paper," "I have always been a bit reluctant to stand up and give a case report, but today...," "... thoroughly enjoyed this beautiful discussion and commend the authors," and "typical of the careful work we have learned to expect from Dr. Blank's department."
These cliches and superlatives of commendation were uttered by discussants of papers at a recent surgical meeting. They will again be made at the same meeting next year and at subsequent discussions at other meetings this year. Over the years their repetition is tiresome to the point of nausea. There is