Dedication
To my grandsons:
Edward Van Liere Batchelder and Terry Lewis Batchelder.
Acknowledgments
I am indebted to several people for helpful criticism in the writing of these essays. My medical colleagues, Dr. Gordon R. McKinney, and Dr. David W. Northup, read a number of the essays and made many helpful suggestions. Professor Armand E. Singer of the Romance Language Department of West Virginia University critically reviewed all the manuscripts, and his scholarly erudition is indeed appreciated. The sympathetic assistance of my wife is also gratefully acknowledged. On occasion, she took me gently by the hand, and led me away from many a pitfall. The kind people who aided me must not be taken to task for errors of commission. I alone am responsible for these.
It is a pleasure to thank my capable and efficient secretaries, Mrs. Mildred Fisher and Mrs. Ann Beavers, for typing the manuscripts.