Patients, Practice, and Policy: Genre and Dr Moran's Cancer Writing

Abstract

Medical literature of the 1920s and 1930s used different narrative forms to meet reader information needs. Australian general and specialist medical journals were often scientific in writing style while the pamphlet form was used for public health education. International medical congresses, which Australians attended, used the conference paper medium and collections were often published in weighty volumes. Herbert Moran was a surgeon and prolific medical writer who used different genres to address concerns about cancer management and treatment. His career included the experimental application of radium and radiation therapy for cancer treatment. This article explores three examples of Moran's writing and shows how he adjusted his style and medical content to fit publication type and audience information needs.