- Email: [email protected]
Saunders Colleague Medical Search Service
Volume 14 Number 4 April, 1986
into each of these categories, the appropriate page reference is listed for easy referral. The formulary of the book includes a good discussion of water and the skin and its significance in treating the skin. This is a topic of therapeutic carit to the dermatologist but may be overlooked by the pediatrician and frustrate his treatment plan. Such emphasis of practical yet crucial points typifies the book. I would recommend this book for all primary practitioners who care for children.
William C. Griffin, M.D. Kingsport, TN
BRS/Saunders Colleague Medical Search Service An on-line bibliographic information retrieval service, 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104; phone 800-468-0908. If you have a need to, or simply want to, search the medical literature and obtain relevant abstracts (and in some cases full-length articles) from your office, within minutes, then you should know about Colleague. If you have a computer, a modem (which allows your computer to communicate over the telephone lines), and a telephone, then you can take advantage of Colleague's huge bibliographic and complete text retrieval service. A very simple menu format (in which you simply choose one of a given number of choices) allows access to different me<;lical data bases, such as MedIine. With minimal practice one can do efficient, fast searches of the medical literature on any topic. The information obtained can be stored on a computer disk, entered into your own reference files (if you have the appropriate software), printed on a printer attached to your computer, or even printed by Colleague to be sent to you within 24 hours. Searches can be custom-tailored and search strategies can be saved to be reused periodically. For instance, the user can specify that only certain journals (such as the relevant dermatology journals) be searched for specific topics. In addition to the complete Medline data base (since 1966), other medical data bases are available. For example, Preview is a data base of ci-
Book reviews
695
tations from 200 current medical journals within 10 days of receipt by major medical libraries. This is useful for very current citations because the most current Medline citations are not available until 1 to 2 months after publication. Unfortunately, the only dermatology journal in Preview is Archives of Dermatology, but the Journal of the American Academy ofDermatology is being added. There is also a complete text library that contains the full text of journal articles from selected medical journals (including New England Journal ofMedicine, Annals of Internal Medicine, The Medical Letter, Pediatrics, Lancet, British Medical Journal, and Sexually Transmitted Diseases, but, unfortunately, as yet no dermatology journals). Some of these journals are available on the day of, or very soon after, publication. The full texts of many textbooks are also available. Finally, Colleague offers other medically related data bases for information on psychology, nursing, pharmacology, and health administration. In addition to the medical data bases, Colleague allows access to over ninety nonmedical data bases, including files relating to business and finance, science, social science, humanities, education, energy, and the environment. Data base files in each of these categories are too numerous to mention, but examples of specific flIes of particular interest to me are Internal Revenue Service publications, Books in Print, and Micro Software Guide and Directory. Like the medical files, these nonmedical files can be searched for specific topics. On-line searching and retrieval of data may, at first, sound daunting, but we have found Colleague easy to master. The instruction manual, which is well written, clear, and concise, is realiy all that is necessary to learn to do rapid and efficient searches. Colleague also offers a practice library (with two hours' free access to new users) for learning and perfecting the user's search technic. In addition, Colleague has an 800 phone number for technical assistance. We have been impressed by the responsive and courteous technical support obtained from the technical staff. Fir:tally, Colleague sends users a monthly news letter, which contains useful information on new data bases, additions to existing data bases, improvements in
696
Book reviews
Colleague's menus or services, and very helpful hints for improving searching strategies. Colleague can be joined for a one-time fee of $75 for an individual. Group rates are also available. Access to the medical data files costs about $32/hour (less for nights, weekends, and holidays), about $0.05 for each abstract displayed (no extra charge just for the citation), and about $0.25 for each full-text document displayed. There is a minimum monthly charge to individuals of $15. Large-volume users receive a discount. Because access is usually through a local phone number, there are no long-distance phone charges in most areas. Experienced users can do even extensive searches in a fraction of an hour. The price per search is usually very reasonable, especially considering the time saved compared to the time necessary to do a search at the library. I would enthusiastically recommend Colleague to any clinician or medical researcher who frequently needs to review the medical literature in an efficient and timely manner. Dermatologists at medical center teaching programs would find Colleague invaluable. It is easy to learn, easy to use, and the technical support is excellent. Colleague will literally put a world of up-to-date information at your fingertips. John R. Stanley, M.D., Bethesda, MD
A world of secrets Walter Laqeur, New York, 1985, Basic Books, Inc. 404 pages. Hardcover, $21.95. Vladmir Ilyich Ulyanov, known as Lenin, the first leader of the USSR, asserted, "Soviet power is a new kind of state, without a bureaucracy, without police, without a regular army... " By 1920, Lenin owned a large bureaucracy and commanded both a police (CHEKA) and a standing army. He must have realized his theories were destroyed by the facts. Today the USSR has the world's largest (l million employees) and the best intelligence service in the world, drawing on an annual budget of about eighty billion equivalent dollars. How does the United States intelligence system compare? What about our allies, the British
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
or the Germans? For those who know intelligence only from stories of James Bond, this well-researched book by an experienced analyst will be both exciting and educational. The answer, unhappily, is that our government manages the job poorly. The United States government, voters must learn, often is not a capable manager. Physicians know this unhappy fact from personal experience with Medicaid, malpractice, and the military, The idea of basing policy on excellent intelligence is splendid. Even in the tiny world of dermatology, we would like our leaders to obey that rule. Our American Academy of Dermatology council on long-range planning is our intelligence agency, concerned that we "avoid surprises and recognize the best new opportunities early," to quote a prime objective of all intelligence work. Such management incites opposition from within, because the nature of all entrenched bureaucracy is to oppose innovation, to avoid new challenge, and, most of rill, to escape criticism. This same opposition in our national intelligence system is an important cause of failure, as the book explains with many examples. Founded only recently iri 1947, our modern CIA remains underfunded ($20 billion), protected poorly in politics, and unable to recruit an excellent staff. The author explains why. Forecasting in the final chapter, "The Future of Intelligence," Laqeur notes that repeated managerial reorganizations have produced little benefit for the CIA. He insists, "Intelligence will improve only if those engaged in it reach a higher level of competence." The key issue is the shortage of talented personnel. As we have learned in the medical profession, progress depends on a seasoned system of education and research·, He suggests, "Perhaps the best way to study intelligence is to go over past experience, with famous cases in the history of the field reviewed and critiqued by former intelligence professionals ... in a national defense university or special intelligence college." Physicians will be able to compare many issues and problems in intelligence with those of our medical profession and will enjoy A World of Secrets. Philip C. Anderson, M.D., Columbia, MO
into each of these categories, the appropriate page reference is listed for easy referral. The formulary of the book includes a good discussion of water and the skin and its significance in treating the skin. This is a topic of therapeutic carit to the dermatologist but may be overlooked by the pediatrician and frustrate his treatment plan. Such emphasis of practical yet crucial points typifies the book. I would recommend this book for all primary practitioners who care for children.
William C. Griffin, M.D. Kingsport, TN
BRS/Saunders Colleague Medical Search Service An on-line bibliographic information retrieval service, 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104; phone 800-468-0908. If you have a need to, or simply want to, search the medical literature and obtain relevant abstracts (and in some cases full-length articles) from your office, within minutes, then you should know about Colleague. If you have a computer, a modem (which allows your computer to communicate over the telephone lines), and a telephone, then you can take advantage of Colleague's huge bibliographic and complete text retrieval service. A very simple menu format (in which you simply choose one of a given number of choices) allows access to different me<;lical data bases, such as MedIine. With minimal practice one can do efficient, fast searches of the medical literature on any topic. The information obtained can be stored on a computer disk, entered into your own reference files (if you have the appropriate software), printed on a printer attached to your computer, or even printed by Colleague to be sent to you within 24 hours. Searches can be custom-tailored and search strategies can be saved to be reused periodically. For instance, the user can specify that only certain journals (such as the relevant dermatology journals) be searched for specific topics. In addition to the complete Medline data base (since 1966), other medical data bases are available. For example, Preview is a data base of ci-
Book reviews
695
tations from 200 current medical journals within 10 days of receipt by major medical libraries. This is useful for very current citations because the most current Medline citations are not available until 1 to 2 months after publication. Unfortunately, the only dermatology journal in Preview is Archives of Dermatology, but the Journal of the American Academy ofDermatology is being added. There is also a complete text library that contains the full text of journal articles from selected medical journals (including New England Journal ofMedicine, Annals of Internal Medicine, The Medical Letter, Pediatrics, Lancet, British Medical Journal, and Sexually Transmitted Diseases, but, unfortunately, as yet no dermatology journals). Some of these journals are available on the day of, or very soon after, publication. The full texts of many textbooks are also available. Finally, Colleague offers other medically related data bases for information on psychology, nursing, pharmacology, and health administration. In addition to the medical data bases, Colleague allows access to over ninety nonmedical data bases, including files relating to business and finance, science, social science, humanities, education, energy, and the environment. Data base files in each of these categories are too numerous to mention, but examples of specific flIes of particular interest to me are Internal Revenue Service publications, Books in Print, and Micro Software Guide and Directory. Like the medical files, these nonmedical files can be searched for specific topics. On-line searching and retrieval of data may, at first, sound daunting, but we have found Colleague easy to master. The instruction manual, which is well written, clear, and concise, is realiy all that is necessary to learn to do rapid and efficient searches. Colleague also offers a practice library (with two hours' free access to new users) for learning and perfecting the user's search technic. In addition, Colleague has an 800 phone number for technical assistance. We have been impressed by the responsive and courteous technical support obtained from the technical staff. Fir:tally, Colleague sends users a monthly news letter, which contains useful information on new data bases, additions to existing data bases, improvements in
696
Book reviews
Colleague's menus or services, and very helpful hints for improving searching strategies. Colleague can be joined for a one-time fee of $75 for an individual. Group rates are also available. Access to the medical data files costs about $32/hour (less for nights, weekends, and holidays), about $0.05 for each abstract displayed (no extra charge just for the citation), and about $0.25 for each full-text document displayed. There is a minimum monthly charge to individuals of $15. Large-volume users receive a discount. Because access is usually through a local phone number, there are no long-distance phone charges in most areas. Experienced users can do even extensive searches in a fraction of an hour. The price per search is usually very reasonable, especially considering the time saved compared to the time necessary to do a search at the library. I would enthusiastically recommend Colleague to any clinician or medical researcher who frequently needs to review the medical literature in an efficient and timely manner. Dermatologists at medical center teaching programs would find Colleague invaluable. It is easy to learn, easy to use, and the technical support is excellent. Colleague will literally put a world of up-to-date information at your fingertips. John R. Stanley, M.D., Bethesda, MD
A world of secrets Walter Laqeur, New York, 1985, Basic Books, Inc. 404 pages. Hardcover, $21.95. Vladmir Ilyich Ulyanov, known as Lenin, the first leader of the USSR, asserted, "Soviet power is a new kind of state, without a bureaucracy, without police, without a regular army... " By 1920, Lenin owned a large bureaucracy and commanded both a police (CHEKA) and a standing army. He must have realized his theories were destroyed by the facts. Today the USSR has the world's largest (l million employees) and the best intelligence service in the world, drawing on an annual budget of about eighty billion equivalent dollars. How does the United States intelligence system compare? What about our allies, the British
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
or the Germans? For those who know intelligence only from stories of James Bond, this well-researched book by an experienced analyst will be both exciting and educational. The answer, unhappily, is that our government manages the job poorly. The United States government, voters must learn, often is not a capable manager. Physicians know this unhappy fact from personal experience with Medicaid, malpractice, and the military, The idea of basing policy on excellent intelligence is splendid. Even in the tiny world of dermatology, we would like our leaders to obey that rule. Our American Academy of Dermatology council on long-range planning is our intelligence agency, concerned that we "avoid surprises and recognize the best new opportunities early," to quote a prime objective of all intelligence work. Such management incites opposition from within, because the nature of all entrenched bureaucracy is to oppose innovation, to avoid new challenge, and, most of rill, to escape criticism. This same opposition in our national intelligence system is an important cause of failure, as the book explains with many examples. Founded only recently iri 1947, our modern CIA remains underfunded ($20 billion), protected poorly in politics, and unable to recruit an excellent staff. The author explains why. Forecasting in the final chapter, "The Future of Intelligence," Laqeur notes that repeated managerial reorganizations have produced little benefit for the CIA. He insists, "Intelligence will improve only if those engaged in it reach a higher level of competence." The key issue is the shortage of talented personnel. As we have learned in the medical profession, progress depends on a seasoned system of education and research·, He suggests, "Perhaps the best way to study intelligence is to go over past experience, with famous cases in the history of the field reviewed and critiqued by former intelligence professionals ... in a national defense university or special intelligence college." Physicians will be able to compare many issues and problems in intelligence with those of our medical profession and will enjoy A World of Secrets. Philip C. Anderson, M.D., Columbia, MO