be printed which are not only false as to fact, but which also seem to be intentionally so? Some so far forget science as to quote articles that it is plain they have never seen, but have lifted bodily from some other list. Certainly there should be some distinction between the article read and the one known only by hearsay. If an author would but put himself in the place of one of the audience whom he is addressing; if he would but read the paper and verify the references as if he had never heard of the subject before, then he would begin to realize some of the deficiencies of his paper and to appreciate the need for fulness and accuracy of statement in his bibliography; he would perceive the reasons for including data whose usefulness he had never before recognized.

It is hard to understand the point of view of the writer who is preparing a paper and who says: 'No one will ever take the trouble to look up these references. They are near enough correct now. Let them look 'em up as I had to." The obvious reply is, “Why print your references at all then? If you are so little interested in your work as that, if you have so little purpose to help others, why do you even print the paper? There are plenty of papers waiting to be published that are just as good or better." The time an author spends in verifying his references is more than saved for

every one of his readers. Rong References," are frequently so very wild

that it is hardly worth while to continue the search for them. The author who knows the material can more easily verify and correct his references before publication than any reader, "each in his separate sphere," can spend hours or days in finding them afterward. Nothing in science is too insignificant to notice. Therefore, verify your references.

The experience of writers and bibliographers has shown that the efficient bibliographical reference is the one containing the complete and correct answer to the question "Who wrote it? What is it about? When and where was it published?" Answering these questions the citation should stand as it does in the Index Medicus and in the Index-Catalogue of the Library of the Surgeon-General's Office. In referring to a book the details are these: 1. Author's name with initials. 2. Title of book. 3. Edition, other than the first. 4. Place, publisher and date (the imprint). 5. Volume, and page therein if a particular statement is to be quoted. On the other hand, a quotation from a classic, like Hippocrates, may be more readily accessible if the reference is to book, chapter, and paragraph. In the reference to a periodical article the details are nearly the same: 1. Author's name with initials. 2. Title of article. 3. Title of periodical. 4. Place and date of publication. 5. Volume, or series and volume. 6. Page, or inclusive paging. When space is not at a premium the unabbreviated form of words of titles is a desirable precaution against error.

However much verification be done in the course of composition, and that may well be considerable, the bibliography should be gone over in toto in the proof. Really, the best way is to free oneself from the suggestion of copy, take the proof alone and consult the sources themselves, making the necessary corrections on the proof. Each detail of figure, letter, and mark of punctuation should be carefully scrutinized; spelling, date, volume number, page number, each should receive its own attention. It is astonishing how many errors can be detected in a supposedly correct proof. Even then the influence of familiarity with the subject and with the articles consulted will slightly obscure the author's watchfulness. Some one unfamiliar with either will be more trustworthy in correcting the references.

44

But why," some one asks, "is it not permissible, with all the catalogues and indexes we have, to say simply that Jones in 1900 did thus and so, or Jones, Journal of Medicine, 1900, said this and that?"

In the first instance, while you are saving space for yourself, you are probably wasting time for every reader of your article; in the second place, you are not saving enough to counterbalance its lack of efficiency; and in both cases the reference is of little worth in its collateral uses. In addition, you are mistaken in thinking that indexes are going to point out the article sought for at once, if at all. The indexes in magazines are themselves arguments for complete and correct reference. Indexes range all the way from the full and carefully made, like those in the Journal of the American Medical

Association and the Journal of Experimental Medicine, through the slovenly and incomplete with elaborate but useless "Table of contents,' down to total absence of both "Contents and index." Atrophy and complete absence of index are too common in both journals and books; too common to speak well for medical journalism, and too common to trust medical literature to its mercy. The index may be lacking either from failure of the editors to have one made by a competent person, or from failure on their part to make the index an integral part of the magazine as published. Either cause is inexcusable and is decidedly bad for both journal and reader. These considerations lend emphasis to the demand for complete and correct references in bibliographies and to the slogan, Verify your references."

44

To the uninitiated all the details for a complete reference seem like redundance of information. To such, the necessary points would be only the author, the journal, the year, the volume, and the page. In certain conditions, to save space, this brevity may be imposed upon one, but let it be only at command of the editor and when he brings forward proof of its necessity. For it must not be forgotten that the bibliography has uses beyond its connection with the article to which it is appended. A good bibliography is often used as a source of references without regard to the point of view of the paper itself. Frequently it is used by the student of the subject as a starting point for research rather than some of the more inclusive bibliographies like the Index-Catalog. Such a list is also called upon to locate papers that other reference books do not include. The more thoroughly the work on the bibliography is done, the greater is the service that it performs. As a finishing touch to the paper then, verify your references.

Though I have elsewhere in greater detail taken up the reasons for the inclusion of the several data in a reference, I wish to list some of them briefly here.

The author's name identifies the workman. The bibliography is an author index of the material referred to; it helps in this way in finding articles that indexes have omitted or that are too recent for any other index.

The title identifies the paper itself, especially when the author has written much on the subject. The title defines the scope of the paper without further search.

The place of publication (and in the case of a book, the name of the publisher) is of aid in identifying the publication.

The date of a book, journal, pamphlet, or other printed thing is, next to the name of the author, the most important fact in scientific bibliography. It establishes the worth of the work as to its timeliness and its position in questions of priority. The date is a point of departure for finding other articles, later or earlier; it furnishes a clue to the scope of the paper.

The volume number reduces the quest to a single book; in most cases to a single sequence of pages. This is no small item in the case of a journal that publishes several volumes a year. The Biochemische Zeitschrift issues almost an even dozen volumes during the twelve months.

The page number directs the reader immediately to the point sought; while inclusive paging gives him in advance an idea as to the length of the article. When given, the page reference obviates the use of the index, which may be absent, or useless, or omit the entry one seeks.

For one reason or another the searcher is sometimes unable to find the original article that he needs; all that is available is an abstract. Let him give a reference to the original as fully as possible from the information that he has, and then give also the citation of the abstract.

This method has its uses in quoting papers in other languages than the English language and in giving other sources in order that at least one may be available to the reader.

This leads me to another point. Give authorities as they are printed, not as you would like to have them printed. If the title is in French, give it in French. A seeker who cannot read French will not then spend time in digging up papers he cannot read. No one can object if, in addition to the title, a translation into English is given, especially if the other language is one that is generally unfamiliar, as Russian or Danish. In quoting other languages, however, great care must be exercised in transcribing names and

titles of papers. To get the force of this take up a list of references in some foreign journal and observe those to English or American literature. Hilarity is likely to ensue. Parker Syms appears as Darker Syms; Diseases of the Pituitary Gland, by E. G. Fearnsides, M.A., M.D., B.C.Cantab., is given in a Jahrbuch as by "E. G. Feamsider & B. C. Cantch." Verification is vexation, but it is the price of safety.

A common fault lies in taking a reference from another's bibliography as though it were thereby Gospel truth itself. Faith may remove mountains, but in science ye are known by your words. "If the great Schmidt gives this reference, it is good enough for me." That is where trouble beginsor is continued; for the possibilities - nay, the probabilities are that Prof. Dr. Geh. Schmidt allowed an inexperienced assistant to round up the references; that another, equally untried, omitted to verify them in any way, and in copying altered thus one unconsciously; while a third let the printer still further maltreat it. The result, fair without but false within, may mean nothing even to Fetlock Jones or Doctor Swatson. Take no reference for granted. Verify the reference that your best friend gives you. Verify the reference that your revered chief gives you. Verify, most of all, the reference that you yourself found and jotted down. To err is human, to verify is necessary.

46

Unless references are verified from the originals, marvelous are the results that are sometimes attained. Articles that mean nothing are ascribed to mythical authors; journals are quoted that never will be published, and dates are indicated that none of us ever will live to see. A classic example of bibliographical cacogenics is shown in the descent of the reference to a report of a case of urticaria by J. V. Hjelmman, published in a Finnish journal in 1899. This was abstracted in Progres medical, Paris, Jan. 27, 1900, 3. ser., xi, 60, but with no indication of its source in the Finnish journal. This French abstract was translated into English and printed in the Medical Bulletin, Phil., May 1900, xxii, 175. but credited to J. V. Hieleman, Progres medical" and without date, volume or page. This translation was transferred bodily to the St. Louis Medical and Surgical Journal, August, 1900, lxxix, 96, credited to the same Hieleman, but now as originating in the "Bull. Med. and Surg.” “J. C. J.," transplanted this hardy annual to the October number, 1900, of the Journal of Cutaneous and Genito-Urinary Diseases, N. Y., 1900, xviii, 470, again deriving it from "Bull. Med. and Surg.," 1900, but also giving due credit to the St. Louis journal. Probably from the Journal of Cutaneous and G.-U. Diseases as his authority Hans Hübner added, "Hielemann, Bull. Med. and Surg., 1900" to his bibliography which appeared with his article in the Archiv fur Dermatologie, Wien, 1900, lxxxi, on page 219. Seeing one of these latter references, who would turn for the original to Finska Lakaresallskapets Handlingar, Helsingfors, 1899, xli, 1236-1241? And echo answers, "Who-who."

Verifying references means work, sometimes a good deal of work; but if your article and bibliography are to be worth anything they should be worth the work to make them so. Why not have the best? If they are not worth the work, they are not worth printing. While the directions here enumerated are many and seem to make a counsel of perfection, the fact that these ideas have been acted upon by some writers shows that they are feasible. And yet these arguments for correct and complete references are not all that might be adduced. Every day, it seems to me, that some newcomer turns up which reveals a new outlook on the uses of the bibliography. In every case the correct reference becomes a time saver, a short cut through the hills of print. Wherefore I say again, Verify your references.

1 J. S. Billings: Our Medical Literature, Transactions of the Seventh International Medical Congress, London, 1881, i, 54-70. Also: Boston Medical and Surgical Journal, 1881, cv, 217222. See also his Medical Bibliography, Transactions of the Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of the State of Maryland, Baltimore, 1883, 58-80. 2 F. Place, Bibliographic Bones, Medical Pickwick, Saranac Lake, 1915, i, 82-84. Idem: Bibliographic Style in Medical Literature, Medical Record, N. Y., 1913, lxxxiii, 157–160.

SOCIETIES

THE AMERICAN CONGRESS ON INTERNAL MEDICINE

The first scientific session of the American Congress on Internal Medicine was held in New York City on December 28 and 29. The subject of the first day's session was The Ductless Glands in Cardio-Vascular Diseases and Dementia Precox." The second day was devoted to a Symposium on Duodenal Ulcer to which Dr. John B. Deaver of Philadelphia contributed a paper on "The Diagnosis of Duodenal Ulcer."

"

On the evening of December 29 a convocation of the American College of Physicians was held.

BOSTON DISTRICT HOMEOPATHIC MEDICAL SOCIETY

The regular monthly meeting of the Boston District Homœopathic Medical Society was held at the Evans Memorial Building on Thursday evening, Dec. 7, at 8 o'clock. The program was:

Bloodless Tonsillectomy, Everett Jones, M.D.; The Use of Stock Vaccines, George C. Anthony, M.D.; The Comparative Value of Stock and Autogenous Vaccines, C. A. Eaton, M.D.

THIRTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF WESTBOROUGH STATE HOSPITAL Westborough State Hospital celebrated its thirtieth anniversary on December 7, 1916, and a very interesting program was presented, Dr. N. Emmons Paine, Chairman of the Board of Trustees and a former Superintendent of the Hospital, presiding.

The program was as follows:

Morning Session

1 Greetings. Historical Retrospect. Dr. N. Emmons Paine.

2 Some Early Experiences as a Member of the Hospital Staff. Dr. Amos J. Givens, Stamford, Conn., First Appointee as Asst. Physician, Westborough State Hospital.

3 The First Transfer of Patients to Westborough State Hospital. Dr. L. A. Dewey, Member Mass. Commission on Mental Disease; formerly Asst. Physician, Northampton State Hospital.

4 The Inauguration of the Acute Service in 1898. Dr. Henry I. Klopp, Allentown, Pa., formerly Asst. Supt., and First Physician in Charge of this Service.

5 The Consulting Board of Physicians and the Hospital. Dr. John L. Coffin, Member Consulting Board; formerly Chairman Board of Trustees.

6 Boston University Medical School and Westborough State Hospital. Dr. John P. Sutherland, Member Consulting Board and Dean Boston University Med. School.

7 For Former Trustees of the Hospital. Miss Eliza T. Durfee, Fall River, Trustee from 1888 - 1915.

8 Three-minute Remarks by Former Members of the Medical Staff.

9 Response for the Present Organization of the Hospital. Dr. H. O. Spalding, Supt.

1

Afternoon Session

Observations on the Alcoholic Psychoses. H. O. Spalding, M.D.

2 Varieties in the Structure of the Cerebral Cortex in Man. E. Lindon Mellus, M.D., Brookline, formerly Pathologist, W. S. H.

3 Does a Formal Education Alter the Course and Outcome of Psychoses? (A study of academically educated persons admitted to Westborough State Hospital during the past ten years.) M. M. Jordan, M.D., Asst. Supt., and Alberta S. Guibord, M.D., formerly Asst. Phys., W. S. H.

4 Adrenalin Mydriasis as a Somatic Symptom of Dementia Præcox and Organic Disease of the Brain. S. C. Fuller, M.D., Pathologist and Clin. Director, and R. M. Chambers, Asst. Phys., W. S. H.

5 Multiple Sarcomatous Growths of the Cerebrum, Mid-brain and Medulla with Comparatively Few and Insignificant Mental and Neurological Symptoms until Late in the Course of the Affection. Frank C. Richardson, M.D., Director Evans Memorial for Clinical Research, and S. C. Fuller, M.D.

6

Sensory Changes in a Case of Friedreich's Ataxia. H. B. Ballou, M.D., Senior Asst. Phys., W. S. H.

7 The Treatment of General Paresis. S. C. Fuller, M.D., and R. M. Chambers, M.D.

8 The Simultaneous Occurrence of the Lesions of Paresis and Multiple Sclerosis in the Same Subject. S. C. Fuller, M.D.

9

A Study of Mesoblastic Connective Tissue Proliferation in the Cortex of Cases Dying of Paresis. S. C. Fuller, M.D.

10 The Cellular Neuroglia of the Cerebral Cortex in Paresis and Senile Dementia as Displayed by the New Chloride of Gold Method of Ramon y Cajal. S. C. Fuller, M.D.

11 Multinucleation of the Purkinje Cells of the Cerebellum, with Reference to their Diagnostic Value for the Hereditary and Acquired Forms of Paresis. (A Critical Study of the Westborough Material and an Analysis of Published Cases.) S. C. Fuller, M.D., and Emily Robinson, Assistant in the Laboratory, W. S. H.

12

Obscure and Familial Syphilis. C. C. Burlingame, M.D., formerly Asst. Physician, W. S. H.

13 Serum Changes in Relation to Epileptic Attacks. P. G. Weston, M.D., formerly Investigator in Pathological Laboratory W. S. H.

14 The Results of Certain Intelligence Tests upon Committed Alcoholics and Drug Habitues. Eleanor A. McC. Gamble, Prof. Psychology, Wellesley College, Special Investigator, W. S. H.

15 A Study of the Results of Diversional Occupation in the Insane. H. I. Klopp, M.D., Supt., Pennsylvania State Hospital, formerly Asst. Supt., W. S. H.

16 A Statistical Study of Narcotic Habitues Admitted to Westborough State Hospital. Alice G. Cutler, M.D., Assistant Physician, W. S. H. 17 Is the Present Care of the Chronic Insane Adequate? H. B. Ballou, M.D. 18 Multiple Arteriosclerotic Coarse Brain Lesions Associated with Mental Symptoms Simulating Manic Attacks of Manic-Depressive Psychosis. M. M. Jordan, M.D., and S. C. Fuller, M.D.

FREE PUBLIC HEALTH TALKS

Under the Auspices of the Massachusetts Homœopathic Hospital, to be Given at the Department of Clinical Research and Preventive Medicine, Evans Memorial, 80 East Concord St., Boston, Mass., on Tuesday Evenings, At Eight O'clock.

1917 Jan. 2.

Brookline.

Exceptional Children." Miss Mary McSkimmon., Pierce School, Jan. 9." Care of the Crippled." Charles F. Painter, M.D., Boston. Jan. 16. -"Deafness." Harold L. Babcock, M.D., Assistant Aural Surgeon, Massachusetts Homœopathic Hospital. Jan. 23. "Fear and Its Relation to Disease." Edward B. Lane, M.D., Superintendent, Adams Nervine, Jamaica Plain.

Jan. 30." Disease and Crime." Rev. Arthur J. Derbyshire, Advisory Committee, Massachusetts Parole Board.

Feb. 6. "Insight - the Keynote of Sane Living." Alberta S. B. Guibord, M.D., Instructor in Psycho-Analysis and Therapy, Boston University. Feb. 13. "Eye Strain." George A. Suffa, M.D., Ophthalmic Surgeon, Massachusetts Homoeopathic Hospital.

Feb. 20. Fatigue and Rest." Percy G. Stiles, M.D., Instructor in Physiology, Harvard University.

Feb. 27. "Conservation and Efficiency." Mr. M. W. Alexander, Efficiency Expert, General Electric Company, West Lynn,