 |
 |
 |
 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
| Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes was a groundbreaking anatomy professor at Harvard Medical College, a prominent author and New England’s most famed conversationalist—or “talkist,” as he called himself. Though he never achieved his goal of becoming America’s great novelist, his imprint on our culture remains in the form of words. He coined the title The Atlantic Monthly, the phrases “Hub of the Universe” and “Boston Brahmins,” and the term “anesthesia.” When a memorial committee wanting to erect a statue to the discovery of anesthesia was facing two doctors’ competing claims and asked Holmes to resolve the matter, he replied that he did not care who received the credit, so they could dedicate it to “ether.” |