Q: Latin or pseudo-Latin "ulcocalculus"

Joel S. Berson Berson at ATT.NET
Thu Mar 7 18:50:45 UTC 2013


If Dr. Zabdiel Boylston, who in 1710 performed the first operation by
an American to remove a gallstone, was called an "ulcocalculus", what
would that mean?  I get as far as "calculus" = "stone", but then it
becomes guesswork.  "Ulco" from "ulcus" in the sense of "sore" or
"abscess" -- an insulting appellation, a nonce-word?  How might that
be expressed in English?  "Sore-stone"?

Joel

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