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The origin and use of the word ‘acne’
Author(s) -
GOOLAMALI S.K.,
ANDISON A.C.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2133.1977.tb06140.x
Subject(s) - newcastle upon tyne , medicine , acne , dermatology , history , library science , art history , computer science
For modern science precise and unambiguous terminology is of vital importance. The label itself does not matter so long as its definition is universally agreed, except, of course, that it will be regarded as in some way more ‘scientific’ if its origins are apparently Latin or Greek. No longer are compilers of medical dictionaries in danger of basing their descriptions ofthe aetiology ofa disease on the etymology, real or imagined, of its name. The mystery in which the origin of the names of some diseases is wrapped, however, continues to exercise a certain fascination. Since even the most recent work on acne, for example, devotes a page to the origin ofthe name (Cunliffe & Cotterill, 1975) we felt that a fresh look at its history was necessary.