Patricia Princehouse, who is studying with Gould, tells me she does
not know the 'Bedside Nature' reference but she does know of Gould discussing
the quote at the 1978 Royal society symposium for which Gould and Lewontin
wrote the paper "The spandrels of San Marco and the panglossian paradigm".
Some people criticized their view saying it was politically motivated, and
Gould's reply included a discussion of the motto on the podium: "nullius in
verba".
He explained that people think it means to seek evidence in nature
and "not in words". But he pointed out that "nullius" is in the genitive
case, so that the phrase means "in the words of no one (or nothing)". It
is in fact a quote of Horace meaning in effect "I am not bound to swear
allegience to anyone's doctrine". So it is a plea for tolerance.
I hope that helps, and Patricia should not be blamed if I have got
some nuance wrong.
best Colin McLarty