To the Editor.
—One can only amen the letter by Frank C. Young, Jr., MD, regarding the use of the anomalous word "bimedial" as in "bimedial recession in esotropia." Then in the last sentence of the second paragraph, he fell into the common use of the anomalous word "recti" as in "operate on both medial recti." Recti sounds like the plural of rectus, which has no plural.
That same issue was dedicated to Francis Heed Adler, MD, that "warmhearted scholar." He would have been disappointed in the editors comment, who preferred the expression "recessions of both medial recti were performed."
The recession of an adjective meaning "straight" is in common but improper usage. How much better it is to recess a thing, a muscle, a noun. "Each medial rectus muscle was recessed" is better (and shorter) form.
Dr. Bryson's letter proves how easily eager grammarians can get into deep waters.
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