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The National Library of Medicine: Index Mechanization Project
CORRESPONDENCE quotes Trancoso (without a specific refer ence) or Schlemm's canal (Davis, F. A.: "The Eye and Orbit of the Rabbit," Tr. Am. Acad. Ophth., 27: 401-441, 1929) seems to be less important than conveying the idea that this structure was not affected by the dosages of radiation which we re ported. In view of the actual anatomy, the use of the more familiar term would seem justified. As to the matter of aqueous veins, we re fer Dr. Vesey to Duke-Elder: System of Ophthalmology, 1958, Volume 1, p. 472. (Signed) Daniel W. Doctor, Ernesto M. Almeda, New York.
BOOK REVIEWS D I E PROPHYLAKTISCHE BEHANDLUNG DER
NETZHAUTABLOSUNG. (The Prophylactic
Treatment of Separation of the Retina.) By Hermann Heinzen. Stuttgart, F. Enke, 1960. 220 pages, 197 illustrations, many in color, bibliography, index. Price: D.M. 129. In his foreword, Prof. Amsler of Zurich, the author's Coryphaeus, quotes Gonin who said, "I feel as if I were in a ship sinking because of a leak in it; I can close this leak and save the ship. I have now been abun dantly occupied with this work; but others will come after me who will go further and show how we can prevent the development of holes. . . ." That is why Heinzen has dedicated his ex cellent book to Jules Gonin and Gerd MeyerSchwickerath, a neat homage indeed. The first part of this book consists of a discussion of the history and pathogenesis of retinal detachment as it pertains to the pro phylactic treatment of it. The last part is concerned with the actual methods of treat ment (diathermy, galvanocautery), with par ticular reference to the use of light coagula tion. There is an excellent part devoted to indications, techniques and results. The au thor is enthusiastic and, judging from his
1325
extensive experience and the results of his treatment, justifiably so. The printing and illustrations are superb. We all would wish that there was an English translation of it. Derrick Vail. T H E NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE: I N DEX MECHANIZATION PROJECT. By Sey
mour I. Taine, Editor Index Medicus. Bull. M. Library A., 49: 1-96 (Jan. part 2) 1961. Price: $1.75. The National Library of Medicine, for merly known as the Library of the SurgeonGeneral's Office, has undertaken the new In dex Medicus, and with it has launched a remarkable development in medical bibliog raphy. The Cumulative Index Medicus, published by the A.M.A., printed its last vol ume in 1959, as did the government-spon sored Current List of Medical Literature. "The old order changeth, yielding place to new." Starting with 1960, the National Li brary of Medicine issues monthly the new Index Medicus and co-operatively the A.M.A. publishes the new annual Cumulated Index Medicus. Dr. Taine details the complex nature of the problems encountered in choosing suit able equipment for large-scale index mecha nization. The 1960 Index Medicus, the world's largest indexing service, listed 125,000 items at a cost per unit of $2.19. The total budget was $274,000.00, of which was paid $200,000.00 to personnel, $17,800.00 for printing, $8,500.00 for rental of punched card machines, $2,400.00 for photographic supplies and $1,500.00 for processing the same, $1,000.00 for tabulating cards and $2,600.00 for maintenance of ma chines used. To the subscriber, the Index Medicus, at $20.00 per year, represents a cost of less than 0.02 cent per article in dexed. The Index Medicus hopes by 1965 to index 180,000 items and to include coverage of the considerable Japanese and Russian medical literature. James E. Lebensohn.
BOOK REVIEWS D I E PROPHYLAKTISCHE BEHANDLUNG DER
NETZHAUTABLOSUNG. (The Prophylactic
Treatment of Separation of the Retina.) By Hermann Heinzen. Stuttgart, F. Enke, 1960. 220 pages, 197 illustrations, many in color, bibliography, index. Price: D.M. 129. In his foreword, Prof. Amsler of Zurich, the author's Coryphaeus, quotes Gonin who said, "I feel as if I were in a ship sinking because of a leak in it; I can close this leak and save the ship. I have now been abun dantly occupied with this work; but others will come after me who will go further and show how we can prevent the development of holes. . . ." That is why Heinzen has dedicated his ex cellent book to Jules Gonin and Gerd MeyerSchwickerath, a neat homage indeed. The first part of this book consists of a discussion of the history and pathogenesis of retinal detachment as it pertains to the pro phylactic treatment of it. The last part is concerned with the actual methods of treat ment (diathermy, galvanocautery), with par ticular reference to the use of light coagula tion. There is an excellent part devoted to indications, techniques and results. The au thor is enthusiastic and, judging from his
1325
extensive experience and the results of his treatment, justifiably so. The printing and illustrations are superb. We all would wish that there was an English translation of it. Derrick Vail. T H E NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE: I N DEX MECHANIZATION PROJECT. By Sey
mour I. Taine, Editor Index Medicus. Bull. M. Library A., 49: 1-96 (Jan. part 2) 1961. Price: $1.75. The National Library of Medicine, for merly known as the Library of the SurgeonGeneral's Office, has undertaken the new In dex Medicus, and with it has launched a remarkable development in medical bibliog raphy. The Cumulative Index Medicus, published by the A.M.A., printed its last vol ume in 1959, as did the government-spon sored Current List of Medical Literature. "The old order changeth, yielding place to new." Starting with 1960, the National Li brary of Medicine issues monthly the new Index Medicus and co-operatively the A.M.A. publishes the new annual Cumulated Index Medicus. Dr. Taine details the complex nature of the problems encountered in choosing suit able equipment for large-scale index mecha nization. The 1960 Index Medicus, the world's largest indexing service, listed 125,000 items at a cost per unit of $2.19. The total budget was $274,000.00, of which was paid $200,000.00 to personnel, $17,800.00 for printing, $8,500.00 for rental of punched card machines, $2,400.00 for photographic supplies and $1,500.00 for processing the same, $1,000.00 for tabulating cards and $2,600.00 for maintenance of ma chines used. To the subscriber, the Index Medicus, at $20.00 per year, represents a cost of less than 0.02 cent per article in dexed. The Index Medicus hopes by 1965 to index 180,000 items and to include coverage of the considerable Japanese and Russian medical literature. James E. Lebensohn.