596 AMERICAN JOURNAL OF DIGESTIVE DISEASES AND NUTRITION

pation. Such emancipation from the standardized, hard-and-fast principles obtaining in 99 per cent of reputable medical periodicals, sorely is needed if for nothing more important than a concession to eye com- fort and to the esthetic demands of physicians long accustomed to and appreciative of elegant arrangement in all other divisions of modern printing.

At an increased cost to the Journal's Management, but without additional financial burden upon its read- ers, the American Journal of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition in a short time could adopt a typographical format in harmony with the best of modern printing. Indeed such a policy actually is our desire. However, before committing itself to what to medical men may seem an innovation, it is our wish to have an expres- sion of opinion from our readers. Certainly, at the recent "physicians' hobbies" exhibition held in New York, art, in its broadest sense, found outstanding ex- ponents in our ranks.

The setting of folio lines at the bottom of pages i the use of 3-point rules to give life and solidity; the em- ployment of extra bold, diversified fonts for themes and titles; symmetrical page arrangement of uniform column-width cuts; the omission of initial capitals but the use of attractive designs for focussing attention; reverse-plate headings for section beginnings; artistic, balanced individual page lay-outs; the use of brief summaries (technically styled "blurbs") which con- vey at a glance the essence of the article following-- these and other changes of format strongly are rec- ommended by qualified advisers (printers, psycholo- gists, ophthalmologists) as most desirable departures.

The conservatism of our profession may view such proposals as out of harmony with the character of this or any medical magazine, but it should be borne in mind that a periodical strictly maintained on the high- est possible ethical plane, with regard both to editorial mat ter and advertising policy, also should lead the way in what eventually must happen to all medical jour- nals: typographical emancipation for the purpose not alone of producing more easily read magazines but also of satisfying one's desire for comfort and pleasure and convenience when reading. One need not detail the advantages to contributors when their not infrequently out-of-the-ordinary or strictly attention-demanding, technical essays are arranged and printed in a fashion which, psychologically, is in the advanced tradition and, typographically, is conducive to the minimum of handicap to concentration and understanding.

In its efforts to give its readers the most representa- tive thought in topics concerning digestive ailments and nutrition, the Journal's management hopes to sponsor, in medical periodicals, those modern prin- ciples of format which lay publications of the first rank soundly have developed, and established for the benefit of their clientele. However, the "timid" or the professionally conservative of our clan need not become alarmed at this suggested departure from standards, traditional i f ra ther hoary and incommoding. Our attempts to advance medical periodical format from that ancientness which is the wonder--even ridicule-- of modern stylists (using this word in its best sense) will not be alarming, precipitate or freakish. Assist- ance, perhaps not even suspected of being rendered by the doctor-reader until he ponders how unattractive and trying are the medical journals which routinely pass over his desk, is sought and awaited.

May we be favored in this effort at "emancipation" from the long and wearily-borne standardized medical journal format, by our readers' opinions and sugges- tions? Perhaps some of the letters concerning this

proposed departure from slavish custom--much of it, merely thoughtlessness or inert ia--can be given space in the Journal's columns.

Beaumont S. Cornell.

T H E J O U R N A L ' S N E W D E P A R T M E N T " T H E C L I N I C "

At hospitals, frequently one may pass a most profit- able hour in "Doctors' Rooms" listening to "shop" talk. There it is that the puzzling "case" (the unusual in symptomatology, the actual therapy, the unexpected recoveries or deaths, the striking pathology) freely is discussed. Such impromptu "clinics" not rarely teach that much knowledge of medicine and its protean prob- lems escape mention in text-books, Journals and hos- pital records. Not rarely, a trained clinician or teacher of medicine can amplify abundantly his mental equip- ment by judiciously selecting facts as set forth by a practitioner, who by nature is not alone a shrewd ob- server and physician, but who, as a consequence of many years of experience in all kinds of circumstances, qualifies as a teacher, even though he holds no institu- tional "chair."

Some months ago, so well-established investigators and astute clinicians as Dr. George B. Eusterman and Dr. Walter Alvarez, Mayo Clinic, wrote in effect: Would there not be a place in a magazine such as the American Journal of Digestive Diseases and Nutri- tion for publication of a series of interesting and un- usual clinical cases as observed in common, everyday practice, wherein are emphasized, briefly, and in a practical way, how and why diagnoses were made, what therapy was exhibited, what was the result or, if the patient died, what autopsies disclosed ? Recital of such cases need not lead their reporters into the prep- aration of extensive or formal papers--indeed, if such were demanded, many men would not respond, they having neither the time nor the desires to go into m a t - ters in detailed manner--but , if men simply would jot down, even on their regular office stationery, the essen- tial facts, the intended purposes would be served. Re- cital of these isolated cases, these strange or curious anomalies or the results of therapy exhibited by trained, observant and sound-thinking practitioners, who, in every sense of the word are doctors, might prove of incalculable benefit to practice in general and to the physician in particular.

Thoroughly appreciating the possibilities in the com- munications above summarized and the wisdom of the suggestions, beginning with this issue, the Journal has set apart space for "The Clinic". This department is open to all readers. They are urged to make it of the value anticipated in the letters of Drs. Eusterman and A1varez. Contributors may be assured that the Editor will be most liberally inclined towards the prompt pub- lication of reports which tell clinical tales and carry diagnostic, therapeutic or pathologic messages.

It is advised tha~ reports be submitted typewrit ten and double spaced. Authors' names will or will not be printed, in accordance with their requests. Illustra- tions (not exceeding three per report) will be inserted when they add something to the presentation or avoid long, detailed descriptions. When possible, the names of the institutions and cities in which the cases oc- curred should be given.

It is the Journal's hope that, before long, the space allotted to "The Clinic" will just ify continuance of this new section. We anticipate not alone hear ty co-opera- tion from our readers but look forward, ourselves, to securing a libpral post-graduate education from the material contributed. F .S .