Mongolism

EDITOR'S COLUMN

The Journal Forum

I T I S generally agreed that if one wishes a definitive answer to a given issue or problem, one does not submit the question to a committee. A committee or panel of experts on the subject involved may, however, provide the greates t likelihood of bringing out the various facets of a problem under investigation. It is axiomatic that a problem which cannot be clearly stated has little possibility of being solved. Elsewhere in this issue attention is focused on the deficits in the understanding of the causes and the pathologic physiology of per-

sistent jaundice in infants. No problems are solved, but the airing of the issues and the opportunity to evaluate the several interpretations should prove useful to the clinician in planning his differential diagnostic studies in a given patient, and to the investigator in developing plans for further research studies. THE JOURNAL OF PEDIATRICS invites other groups to make similar use of its pages for consideration of pediatric problems through the technique of a Journal Forum. W. E. N.

Mongolism

I N A letter to Lancet (April 8, 1961), a group of distinguished geneticists and pediatricians recommended that the terms "Mongolian idiocy," "Mongolism," "Mongoloid," etc., as applied to a specific type of mental deficiency, be abandoned. The expressions have misleading connotations since the condition is not related to the segregation of

genes derived from Asians. Moreover, its occurrence among members of the Asian population suggests such cumbersome and meaningless designations as "Mongol Mongoloid." The increasing participation of Asian investigators in the study of the condition imposes on them the use of terms which may be embarrassing. Most important of all to the 163

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Editor's column

pediatrician, the terms carry a stigma among the laity and are highly offensive to the parents of afflicted children. A number of substitute designations have been suggested. Among these are "LangdonDown anomaly," "Down's syndrome" or "Down's anomaly," and "congenital acromicria." Several of the signers of the letter prefer the term "trisomy 21 anomaly." This

A

July 1962

would include cases of simple trisomy as well as translocations. Pediatricians will be among the first to welcome a new designation. It would probably be some solace to parents to be told that, now we understand the condition a little better, we no longer use the term "Mongoloid." It.

B.

voice

I N T ~ E day's mail !mid-April) we received a copy of the first issue (January, 1962) of the Journal o[ the Indian Pediatric Society. Although this is the fourth Indian journal devoted exclusively to child health, it provides for the first time an official organ for the Indian Pediatric Society. The Society was established in 1948. The appearance of this new pediatric journal reflects the marked increase in child health activities not only in India but also throughout the Eastern hemisphere. The leaders of Indian pediatrics are to be commended for their achievements. These are especially evident in an increased interest in pediatric medicine made apparent by the number of medical students choosing pediatrics as a career. It may well be that child health is India's

most serious medical problem of the moment. The challenges seem limitless~but the potential for betterment is great. Leadership in academic pediatrics has been and is evolving, both in the public health field and in the private practice of pediatrics. This new journal provides the opportunity for the young and virile Indian Pediatric Society to extend its influence for the increasing benefit of children not only in India but throughout the world. The Editorial Board of the JOURNAL OF PEDIATRIGS takes this opportunity to express their confidence and to extend their best wishes to the Editorial Board of this new voice of Indian pediatrics. Hail and good journey! W,

E. N .