It studies the variation, with age,
of the ego’s resistance to massage.
The Brazilian Society of Internal Medicine (Sociedade Brasileira de Clínica Médica), in a solemn session to Honor the Great Names of Medicine, held on June 15, 2006, conferred this distinction upon me. Although I have always strictly followed the wise maxim, speak only if your message is stronger than silence, in view of the circumstances surrounding this moment I feel obliged to break that precept.
Four are the reasons that lead me to do so. The first is the great prestige of the society bestowing this tribute. The second is the chosen occasion: the grandeur of the opening ceremony of an International Congress with six thousand participants. The third justification is being in the company of a constellation of first-rank colleagues, among whom I invoke the name of Prof. Bussamara Neme—perhaps the dean of this group, and my professor at the USP School of Medicine—to celebrate alongside the other honorees. The fourth reason is being named one of the Great Names of Medicine. At that point the ego was struck squarely. It was devastating!
I did not know that a massage to the ego could stir such powerful emotion, but Professors Antonio Carlos Lopes and Alexandre Gabriel Jr. did know—for they scheduled this tribute at a time when internists and cardiologists of the highest caliber would be present to attend to any emergency!
This whole preamble is meant to make plain how deeply moved I am, and thus to express my profound gratitude.
In view of this experience I am living, and by way of acknowledgment, I suggest to Dr. Alexandre that he propose to one of his graduate students the study of a new examination to investigate how, with age, the ego’s resistance to massage varies, and to indicate the safe range at the various levels of longevity. It could be called the Egometric Test, having nothing to do with the exercise stress test (ergometry) that you gentlemen have fully mastered and in which we surgeons are less versed.
Since I am already entering the risk range, it is prudent to stop. Here I remain!
My deepest thanks.
Irany Novah Moraes
