Burrill Bernard Crohn

Burrill B. Crohn (June 13, 1884 – July 29, 1983) was an American gastroenterologist and made the first major advance to identify the disease that now bears his name, Crohn's disease. Although the description of Crohn's disease is by far his most famous accomplishment, Crohn had a long career both as a clinician, and as a researcher who contributed to modern understanding of many gastrointestinal conditions.

Quotes

• Most retired business people "know how to work but they don't know how to play; they are completely devoid of the spirit of relaxation and recreation. Such forced idleness is ruinous to the morale of many of the more capable men of affairs."
  • Speaking at the second annual graduate fortnight of the New York Academy of Medicine, 15 October 1929.

• "The differentiation of the neuroses from organic visceral diseases, Dr. Crohn said, "is one of the difficult problems in clinical medicine. Let him who is proud of his acumen and experience as a physician survey, from year to year, his own record in this respect, and his pride may take, will take, a severe fall. With his eyes wide open to the problem, with much experience with the world, people and moods, and with years of clinical training and knowledge, no one is immune to, at times, mistaking organic diseases for the neuroses, or of falsely interpreting neurotic symptoms in terms of pathological states."
  • Speaking at the seventh annual graduate fortnight of the New York Academy of Medicine, 25 October 1934.

• "The motion of my blood no longer keeps time with the tumult of the world. It leads me to seek happiness in the lap of, and love of my family, in the society of my neighbors, and my books, in the wholesome occupations of my farm and my affairs, in an interest or affection in every kind of bud that opens, in every breath that blows around me, in an entire freedom of rest or motion, owing account to myself alone of my hours and actions."
  • A letter to his patients, informing them of his decision to retire (1969)