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The surgical investigator must be a bridge tender, channeling knowledge from biologic science to the patient's bedside and back again. He traces his origin from both ends of the bridge. He is thus a bastard, and is called this by everybody. Those at one end of the bridge say that he is not a very good scientist and those at the other end say he does not spend enough time in the Operating Room. 1 Francis D. Moore 1958 This issue of theArchivescarries articles presented at the 69th Annual Scientific Meeting of the New England Surgical Society (NESS). Founded on February 5, 1916, at the Harvard Club in Boston, Mass, this society has a long and distinguished history in American surgery. Their indoctrination memorandum to new members states that the original members were not only leaders in New England in the art and science of surgery, but were

To the Editor:— I wish to state that the first paragraph, naming opponents of the current fad of sexual indoctrination via sensitivity training techniques in the school as "identified with the right wing" and as "uninformed individuals" is totally false. Additionally the fight against these experimental programs did not begin in the South, but did have its origin in the state of California in April 1968. I know of this because I was one of the original warriors. I am a life-long Democrat—no right-winger—and the organization which I helped to form has had no support either financial or other from anyone but concerned parents. It is obvious that 15 state legislatures would not consider protective legislation if there were only "ignorant" people involved. It is also obvious that there are many prominent physicians and psychiatrists who oppose these programs. What is proposed by SIECUS is not sex education but is

The practice of anesthesia is intimately connected with the basic sciences, perhaps to a greater degree than are other specialties. The anesthesiologist is a clinical pharmacologist. He is concerned with the physical principles of monitoring, inhalation therapy, and anesthesia equipment. He must be aware of the physiological status of his patient before, during, and following the anesthetic state, and in consultative situations as well. Clearly, both indoctrination in the specialty and keeping abreast therewith deeply involve these basic disciplines. The editors of this book offer it as an aid to competence in the basic sciences. This book, edited in the United Kingdom, is primarily of British authorship although there are some American contributors. The book contains 41 chapters, the majority of which are concerned with physiology. Eleven chapters and the three appendices cover physical principles and clinical topics related thereto. Four chapters are devoted to pharmacology—factors affecting drug action, drug

In 1861 the physicians of this country, North and South, contributed their patriotic ardor to the general pools. Eventually about 15,400 served as medical officers—12,000 Federal and 3,400 Confederate. Without any indoctrination in military medicine, and in some states without any examination for proficiency, they bought their uniforms, horses, and accoutrements, packed their surgical cases and medicine bags, and rode off to join their regiments in camp, field, or battle. Additional thousands enlisted as combatants. Some became medical officers; many, however, remained in the ranks or were promoted to be company or regimental officers, and at least 33 finally became combatant generals. 1 The two groups, the medical and nonmedical, contained a high proportion of the country's physicians. The regimental doctors were designated surgeons and assistant surgeons. One of each was assigned to a regiment, originally containing about a thousand men. The regiments were the basic, important units. They were recruited

To the Editor:— It is apparent that, with the present aggressive drive for social legislation which is now being carried on, it is necessary for every state and county medical society to have informed public speakers on this subject. The number of physicians who are available for this work is very small and for obvious reasons: either these men are too busy to inform themselves on the subject of socialization of medicine as far as factual information is concerned or they do not have the time required to accept speaking engagements. For these reasons I should like to suggest that the American Medical Association provide, at some central point such as Chicago or Washington, D. C., a briefing course of three or four days for indoctrination and presentation of factual information as well as any other information which may be useful for speakers who meet the public, particularly the executive

To the Editor:— Your recent editorials, "Have a Heart" and "Change of Heart," generated much outpouring of adrenalin in many of your readers. The callous proposal of licensed private heart farms and the frivolous speculation about the effect of cardiac transplantation on popular lyrics are offensive to good taste. Problems of organ transplantation are too serious to be treated in such cavalier fashion. As in the days of cannibalism, when a human being was a source of desirable flesh, so, in the future days of unrestrained organ transplantation, one human being may become a tempting source of organs to another. Could there be a stronger inducement to murder, genocide, or war than the prospect of replenishing depleted organbanks? In order to forestall these grisly developments, strong moral indoctrination becomes necessary. I suggest that we augment the list of commandments by adding an Eleventh, "Thou Shalt Not Covet Thy Neighbor's Viscera."

To the Editor:— It was my privilege recently to visit one of the Navy preflight schools in which the emphasis is on indoctrination, certain phases of technical training, and physical fitness. At this school they have, in addition to the regular Navy line officers and a specially commissioned staff of physical education and athletic leaders, a remarkably fine medical and dental staff organization. These physicians and dentists are doing a splendid job in examination, surgery, care of injuries and illness, and guidance, as far as excuse from regular activity and class work for medical reasons is concerned. Infirmary and hospital facilities of an outstanding type are available and are being well used. In addition to the usual entrance medical examination, this medical group is administering a mass x-ray examination of the lungs by use of a 35 mm. film unit. The program at this preflight school at one time involved

The industrial physician occupies a key position in the civil defense preparations for the personnel of his company. On his shoulders rests the grave responsibility of planning for the emergency treatment of large numbers of casualties and their efficient evacuation from the plant. It must be anticipated that, with the possible exception of fire-fighting equipment and personnel, no immediate assistance can be expected from outside sources in event of enemy attack. The industrial physician must, therefore outline in advance a plan through which his plant can, as far as possible, become self-sufficient in the hours immediately following a major catastrophe. Since in any struck plant there will obviously be many more casualties than can be handled by the physician personally, it is essential that he build up a corps of assistants among the lay employees of the company and supervise their indoctrination in medical rescue work. The object of this

It is difficult to obtain expert medical testimony from physicians in personal injury cases. This is not due to unwillingness to cooperate with the law but rather to the fact that the physician is cast into an atmosphere foreign to his training and philosophy. A plan has been formulated to make available a panel of physicians for consultation with attorneys of the local or neighboring bar associations for presuit expert opinion and, where suit is instituted, for testimony as an expert witness. The education of physicians to serve on these professional liability medical panels is considered of paramount importance. This is accomplished through a thorough indoctrination by a joint committee of the local medical and bar associations, with or without the assistance of special statewide indoctrination committees where such assistance is considered desirable and necessary by the local working units. The success of these panels will depend on the professional qualifications and impartiality of the panel physicians and the willingness and readiness of attorneys to accept a neutral and unbiased opinion.