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Saturday, 10 July 2010

Medicine

On the verge of the World Cup Final between the Netherlands and Spain it seems only fitting to think Dutch.

Herman Boerhaave was a great physician nearly 500 years ago. 

When he died he left in his will a book to be auctioned.  It came with his highest commendation for he had written it himself and he was one of Europe's most respected physicians.

The auction proceeded to a substantial sum.

The book, however, was not what it seemed. Page after page was blank!  Right at the end Doctor Boerhaave had written:
Keep your head cool, keep your feet warm and you will leave doctors poor.



I sometimes wonder if there are not too many books (and blogs and twitters) and not enough wisdom.

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