<p>Irvin S. Cobb's 'Speaking of Operations--' offers a candid and humor-filled account of the writer's own experience under the surgeon's knife. Cobb's skillful employment of self-deprecating wit transcends a mere comedic monologue, affording a glimpse into early 20th-century medical procedures and social attitudes toward healthcare. His narrative weaves personal anecdote with broader societal commentary, housed within a literary style that is ch...