摘要：The Index Medicus was started in the year I879 by Drs. John S. Billings and Robert Fletcher of the Surgeon-General's Library, as "a monthly classified record of the current medical literature of the world." The first number bore the date January 31st, I879. Number I2 was dated December 31st, I879. The prospectus states that "it is not at present intended to index journals devoted to the subjects of chemistry, pharmacy, veterinary medicine and dentistry," but the editors will select from them articles which have a bearing upon pathology or therapeutics. In the prefatory remarks, it is stated that "the nomenclature and classification are essentially those adopted by the Royal College of Physicians of London based on Dr. Far's well-known system." Curiously enough, Number I of the new journal starts out auspiciously by giving the prices of new books, by arranging the author index in three, the subject index in two vertical columns; while at the end of some of the monthly numbers will be found "Notes and queries" (questions and answers on recondite points relating to the history of medicine) and Corrigenda. On pages I64, 272, 370, 4I9 and 468, there is inserted, apparently as a kind of bonne bouche, a "Bibliography of Public Hygiene" by Dr. J. S. Billings. In the second volume (i88o), all these idolatries are thrown down and disappear. Through Vols. II- & VI. (i88o-84) the author and subject indexes at the end are unquestionably spoiled by printing them in needle-point type and abreast, instead of tandem, which does not make for easy reference or perspicuity. The normal vertical arrangement common to all good indexes is resumed in I885 (Vol. 7) and continued through the last volume of the journal (i926-7).
