Report on Medical Literature, Being a Report of a Committee Headed by Oliver Wendell Holmes to the First Meeting of the American Medical Association, 1848

REPORT ON MEDICAL LITERATURE, BEING A REPORT OF A COMMITTEE HEADED BY OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES TO THE FIRST MEETING OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, 1848* Thefollowing devastating summary ofmedical literature was a report ofa special committee that included some ofthe most eminent names in American medicine. The talented pen ofthe committee 's chairman is clearly seen at work. The editors ofPerspectives in Biology and Medicinefeel that it is a refreshing anarewarding experience to read this all-toocurrent account, and we thank Dr. Richard H. Shryockfor calling it to our attention. The Committee on Medical Literature was appointed to prepare "an annual report on the general character ofthe periodical medical publications of the United States, in reference to the more important articles therein presented to the profession, on original American medical publications, on medical compilations and compends by American writers, on American reprints of foreign medical works, and on all such measures as may be deemed advisable for encouraging and maintaining a national literature of our own." In presenting the first report upon this subject to the Association, the committee thought it desirable to take a summary retrospect ofwhat has been done in the several branches brought under their consideration,before proceeding to examine the more recent labours in the same department . It has seemed to the committee that the duties of those who should succeed them in after years, would be rendered more useful andat the same * "Report of the Committee on Medical Literature," Transactions oj the American Medical Association , Instituted 1847, pp. 249-88. Philadelphia: Printed for the Association by T. K. & P. G. Collins, 1848. Reprinted in part here with the kind permission of the American Medical Association. 309 time less onerous, by this general survey ofthe whole field which has been traversed. Much ofthe tediousness ofthe long array ofnames which have been unavoidably enumerated, would be avoided in the futureannual summaries , and many points would, doubtless, be developed, which the length of this report, ifno other reason, has suppressed or crowded into narrow limits. It is proper to state that the materials within the reach ofthe committee were by no means complete, especially in what relates to periodical literature, and that, with every disposition to do impartial justice, they have not always had the means of obtaining complete series ofjournals, and have sometimes been reduced to a few disconnected numbers. Periodical Medical Publications ofthe United States The plan ofthe first medical periodical publication which appeared in this country, was conceived by Dr. Elihu H. Smith, of New York. He associated in his enterprise Dr. Edward Miller and Dr. Samuel L. Mitchell, and in August, 1797, the first number ofthe newjournal appeared, under the name ofthe New York MedicalRepository. In the hands ofdiffèrent editors it continued to bepublished for many years, until it reached its twentythird volume. In its pages are contained most of the writings of Dr. Miller, one ofthe most original thinkers and observers which this country has produced, whose eulogy has been written at length by the most renowned among the medical theorists of the present century. Here, too, are many of the productions ofthe originator of the enterprise, who, at the early age oftwenty-seven, fell a victim to the disease he had illustrated, leaving a name which might have rewarded a long life of honourable exertion. Although a considerable portion of the Medical Repository is occupied by chemical disquisitions which no longer possess anything but historical value, still it will be always consulted with profit for its accounts of the diseases ofthis country during the period ofits publication, especially of yellow fever, of spotted fever, and oftyphoid pneumonia. The chemist will remember it as having been honoured by many contributions from Priestley; and the obstetrician will not soon forget that a letter from Dr. Stevens, in its eleventh volume, introduced to the world the wonderful properties ofergot. In speaking ofthis, the first ofour medical periodicals, the expressions ofDr. Thacher may be adopted, as doing justice to the pioneer journal ofthe western hemisphere. 310 Report on Medical Literature, 1848 Perspectives in Biology and Medicine · Spring 1959 "The commencement ofthis publication undoubtedly forms an era in the literary and medical history of our country. No work...