Vol. 60, 1909 - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

EDITORIAL. 391
ation of information or demonstration of science such as we have, reporting of course
scientific truth knows no metes or bounds from time to time the results of their labors
as regards whether the printed sheet is own- to an interested and appreciative membered
by a society, a corporation or private ship. It may, and should do all of this,
individuals, provided its conduct merits and more too as occasion evolves opportuprofessional
respect; utterly beneath the nity, (and I take a professional pride in
great organization of physicians in whose noting that it is doing this, for I am proud
name such policy is pursued, and last but of our great aational official organ in many
by no means least, it is petty and unbusi- respects!), but when its editor deliberately
ness like as well as sadly out of adjustment fosters a policy which stiffles all periodic
with the spirit of progressiveness which publications of medical kind, then we mav
characterizes alike the leaders of our pro- naturally look for the appearance in the
fessiou and the age in which we live. columns of a free and independent press of
A great national medical journal as the such fiery and impassioned attacks as Dr.
oflncial organ of the great national organi- Lydston makes in the article referred to
lion of the medical profession, is a necessity above.
and has its proyjer field of operations; equally No, our great national medical journal
true it is is, that great medical journals with should foster every influence for professional
ownership and conduct independent of the uplift, extending everywhere the helping
financial aid and suppo,t of medical socie- hand, instead of cultivating a narrow pro~^
ties, have their legitimate field of action, vincial spirit which says to the profession
Such independently owned and conducted and to the world, it is wrong for any man
journals are in existence in the various or men, saving a society, to own and conmedical
centres of the country aud there is duct a medical journal—a contracted tradesevery
evidence that they are giving equal union spirit which it pains an intelligent
oatisfaction to their owners and their pat- libera! minded man to think should ever be
reus as well, and that they will continne to cherished by any enlightened member of
be published. our profession, which, of all pro'"essioiis or
Again in some few of the states where avocations of men, stands m )s. firuilv for
there are large society memberships count- individual liberty of thought and freedom
ing by the thousands, it is perfectly i)racti- of action in all things.
cable to successfully operate local medical And we shall see the day in the not far
journals of lesser scope than our great na- distant future when those in control of the
tional weekly, as we see being now done A. M. A., will, in response to a constantly
with some degree of success in some four growing demand, sweep from the exercise
or fi\e of the states. However, as a matter of autocratic and despotic power the menof
practical business economy, such an un- tally contracted and spiritually deformed
dertaking, especially when proposed by Simmons and his suppliant sycophants and
those in official position in the national replace them with clearer minds which will
medical association, to be forced on every guide our great national medical associacomponent
society, large or small, without tion and its journal along broader and more
intelligent regard as to proper business con- sympathetic lines of thought to greater opsiderations,
is chimerical, and i)radent busi- portunities and influence in benefitting the
ness minded physicians there are who do profession and the people. W.
not hesitate to predict that in five years
there will be fewer medical society owned abiotrophy.
journals being published than are issued at Changes of greater or less definiteness are
present. implied by the term senile atrophy. Some-
Tlie policy of the Journal A. .M. A. needs what closely allied is a condition, recently
broadening. It may very properly enlarge, brought into prominence by Gowers, which
and should in fact, amplify all the varied has been termed abiotrophy. Ad ami says
opportunities afforded it for advancement that this is the condition of premature death
of the numerous interests of the medical of the tissues or portions of tissues, not as
professiem; not only in being the medium of the result of any immediate irritant. Postransmission
of the many valuable contri- sibly this should be regarded merely as a
butions to the current literature, and the conception and explanation of cell decay, ingeneral
news of professional life as is now asmuch as it appears to explain in a manner
done, but it may even with perfect propriety more satisfactory than any other the develfartiier
develop the fields of elTort lately in- ment of certain otherwise obscure condivaded
in undertaking through intelligently tions. There is a series of morbid disturb-
:onceived committees to i)rosecute studies ances of the nervous system in which cer-
,ind investigations of a considerable num- tain cells and systems of cells and the
Jer of the various problems ever facing the associated tracts present degeneration, and,
ievotees of an only partially constructed eventually, complete disorganization, the