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JOURNAL OF THE NATIONAL MEDICAL ASSOCIATION Vol. XXI, No. 4 REPORTS ON PUBLICATIONS
THE "MEDICAL MENTOR" "Of the making of many books there is no end," is as true today as when the expression was uttered by Bacon. Some of these books are useful; some are useless; some beneficial, some harmful; some are good and others are positively bad. The same is true of periodicals in general, and to a modified degree of medical periodicals in particular. The latest periodical which has come to the editor's desk is useful, beneficial and good. As the official organ of the American Medical Editors and Authors Association, the "Medical Mentor" has a distinct place and a reason for its existence. This association was organized in 1869 under the name of the American Editors Association, embodying in its membership editors of medical periodicals. This year its scope was enlarged to include medical authors, and it was so incorporated under the laws of New York State on June 21, 1929. Volume one, Number one, October, 1929, of the "Medical Mentor" is a very pleasing and acceptable new-comer. It is not a medical journal in the same sense as the regular medical journals, for it does not purpose to treat of the science and art of medicine except in the abstract. It is the means of inter-communication between the members of this organization, and is intended to bind them more effectively and closer together. This first volume carries a number of intersting original communication,s such as Problems and Responsibilities of the Medical Editors, The Funetion of the Independent Medical Journal, The Role of the State Medical Journal, The Spe. cial Difficulties of the Medical Publishers, and Some Personal Problems of the Medical Writer. Then there is the Debate Section, The History of Medical Journals, The Legal Department, Talks between Doctors and Laymen, Short Story Section, Who's Who in the Association, Hobbles of Medical Men, The Medical Library Section, Reviews and Book Notices, Constitution and ByLaws of the Association with its Membership and Index of Articles, in current medi'cal periodicals. Readers of our journal will be pleased to note that among the latter may be found a list of articles published in the July-September number of the journal of the National Medical Association, also in the membership roster the name of the editor of the journal of the National Medical Association.-J.A.K.
THE 1929-1930 PHYSICIANS' CATALOG OF THER PHARMACEUTICAL AND BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS of Parke, Davis & Company. This book is more than a commercial catalog. With its descriptive notes, 62 half-tone illustrations, and three indexes-general, materia medica, and therapeutic; and the accessibility of its contents provided for, by its unique arrangements, it makes a ready appeal to the practitioner as a handy desk companion. Particularly will the therapeutic index be of much service as a ready reference.-J.A.K. THE MEDICAL RECORD VISITING LIST OR PHYSICIANS' DIARY FOR 1930, Revised, is before us. It is published by William Wood & Company, Medical Publishers, New York. Price is $2.00. Aside from the visiting list for 60 patients a week with special memoranda, it contains lots of valuable information, all of which is important and at times will be found indispensable. It is a very useful little book for the practitioner to have at hand, particularly when out on his calls. -J.A.K.
TEMPERAMENT OF T.B. PATIENTS CHANGE Tuberculosis patients are inclined to prefer solitary amusements and pursuits, particularly in early stages of the disease. Those who have become bed-ridden are more generally eager for social contacts. It has been a general presumption among phy. sicians that patients suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis in its various manifestations were happy, cheerful, and if anything, rather elated individuals. This would place them in the personality class known to psychiatrists as extrovert or social-minded. However, recent tests on tuberculosis patients including such questions as: Do you like excitement, like to be alone a great deal, enjoy social gatherings just to be with people, like to do the things you dream about; showed that 46 per cent of the patients were introverts; that is, they pre. ferred being alone and were more absorbed in themselves than in the world about them. 39 per cent were classified as extroverts, and the remainder were in the neutral class, in which social and solitary traits are fairly balanced.
Pellagra, a disease of man, and black tongue, a disease of dogs, are found to be due to the same kind of dietary deficiences. The "black window" is probably the most poisonous spider in North America.
