This article is only available in the PDF format. Download the PDF to view the article, as well as its associated figures and tables.
Reply
To the Editor.—Grammatically, Dr. Szilagyi is absolutely correct that "goeth" is more acceptable than "goest." I must admit that I was influenced by Chaucer and the Bible when I should have been more impressed grammatically and educationally by the frequent paraphrasing of the advice of Sophocles, "Pride goeth before a fall."
Unconsciously, though, because "goest" is the second person singular form it does bring home the point that a duodenal stump blowout is a personal failure of the surgeon to whom it happens. In these days when committees of men, teams of physicians, the phases of the moon, and other groupings are used to explain away poor results or untoward events, I believe that it behooves all of us who are teaching young surgeons to stress the personal responsibility one has towards his patients.