Many clues to the unknowns in medicine are locked in the library, waiting for someone to open the right book at the right time’ [Donohoe M. Advices for Young Investigators: Historical Perspectives on Scientific Research. Adv Health Sc Ed 2003;8:167-171].
‘In medicine the nidus of almost everthing published today can be found within the German literature of the nineteenth century’ [Goldwyn RM. The Question of Priority. Plast Reconstr Surg 1982;69(3):509-510].
‘… if you search deep enough, far enough, and long enough, you may find that someone has done it before you’ [Pennisi VR. Proclaim your innovations but please acknowledge those of your predecessors. Plast Reconstr Surg 1983;71:731-732].
'Historians can enjoy all the excitement and intrigue of detective work with a much lower risk of getting shot' [Jacalyn Duffin, 1999].
'As the problem in hand surgery is composite, the surgeon must also be. It is impractical for three specialists (bone, nerve, soft-tissue) to work together or in series. There is no shortcut. The surgeon must face the situation and equip himself to handle any and all of the tissues in a limb' [Bunnell, 1944].
´From the earliest days of recorded history man has dressed his wounds, using a variety of substances and methods, but always with the same object, to promote quick healing of the injury´ [Elliott IMZ, Elliott JR. A short history of surgical dressings. London: The Pharmaceutical Press 1964:1].