Letters from patients who underwent this operation have encouraged us to continue. Until now we have operated on more than 250 patients, the majority of them during the last two years, and a follow-up study has been made on our first 122 cases. Of these, 99 were females and 23 males. The ma¬ jority of patients were in the 20- to 40-year-old age group and had had their perspiration problems since tom.
early youth.
Our greatest problem is associated with the postoperative scars; the sub¬ cutaneous tissue is thin and has a
tendency
to
Erling Bo Andersen, MD Helmer Burchardt, MD Palle Taarnh\l=o/\j,MD
Copenhagen
1. Hurley HJ, Shelley WB: A simple surgical approach management of axillary hyperhidrosis. JAMA 186:109-112, 1963.
to the
2. Midholm S, Taarnh\l=o/\j P: Hyperhidrosis Ugeskr Laeger 134:1528-1531, 1972.
Error in
etc.
Louis Lasagna, MD School of Medicine and
rupture during healing.
In 35% of the patients operated on, the scar was linear, in 40%, 0.5 to 1.5 cm in width, and in 25%, wider than 1.5 cm. However, the effect on perspi¬ ration has been satisfactory; 64% of the patients were completely satis¬ fied, 29% were pleased, and 7% dis¬ satisfied. In some cases with poor re¬ sults, a larger area of skin has subsequently been excised.
axillae.
Mithramycin
in Annals of Internal Medicine
Dosage
Iron in Bread To the Editor.\p=m-\Arecent article in The Journal by Dr. William H. Crosby (228:1651, 1974) raised about six points, as I remember, that represent important accusations about the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). If Crosby is correct, then the situation is shameful. If he is incorrect, then he is doing the FDA a great disservice. I would hope that Crosby could be invited to document such charges as "fraudulent chronology,"
To the Editor.\p=m-\Anerror in drug dosage was published on page 68 in the
article, "Therapy of Fluid and Electrolyte Disorders," by R. D. Lindeman and S. Papper, in the January
1975 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine (82:64, 1975). The doses of mithramycin for treatment of hypercalcemia, as described in the fifth paragraph of the first column on page 68, should be 25\g=m\gper kilogram of body weight and 150\g=m\g per kilogram of body weight per week, not 25 mg per kilogram of body weight and 150 mg per kilogram of body weight per week, as published. Readers of The Journal should call this error to the attention of their colleagues and librarians (who should correct this error in library copies). A notice of this error is being published in the March 1975 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine. Edward Huth, MD, Editor Annals of Internal Medicine
Philadelphia
Dentistry University of Rochester Rochester, NY
reply by Dr. Crosby in response to Dr. Lasagna's letter appears on page 10b~U- The following letter by Dr. Alexander M. Schmidt, Commissioner of Food and Drugs, explains why he considers it inappropriate to respond- to Dr. Crosby's A
commentary
at this time.-Ed.
To the Editor.\p=m-\For
reasons
of fair-
ness, the Food and
Drug Administration has adopted a policy of strict "separation of functions" with respect to all matters subject to formal public hearings. In these matters, the
Bureau acts as the advocate for its in the hearing held before the Administrative Law Judge, and the office of the Commissioner is precluded from any contact with the Bureau on that matter after the notice of hearing has been published in the Federal Register. After the hearing is completed, the Administrative Law Judge transmits the record, together with his recommendations, to me for a decision. I act, in this capacity, in the same way as does a judge who hears a case tried before him. I am precluded from any discussion of the
position
matter that
might
be construed as from any contact with the Bureau or any other party, or from consideration of any evidence other than that presented at the hearing. If I violate any of these rules, I would be disqualified from participat¬ ing in the decision. I believe that members of the scien¬ tific community will agree that this type of impartial consideration is es¬ sential to our concepts of fair play and due process of law in a demo¬ cratic society. I believe they will also understand why, in view of the fact that the matter is now pending be¬ fore me for a decision, I am not in a position to offer any comment what-
prejudgment,
Downloaded From: http://jama.jamanetwork.com/ by a New York University User on 05/19/2015
ever on the various communications that have already appeared in The Journal or that are in the process of
publication. My decision, indeed, can take into account only the evidence presented at the hearing by Dr. Crosby and others, and cannot con¬
sider any additional extrarecord views or information that might be printed in The Journal. My decision will be forthcoming within the next few weeks. It will, of course, contain a full discussion of the reasons for that decision. I can assure all concerned that it will be based solely on the scientific facts that have been presented at the hearing, and not on emotion or argumentation. If I find that the facts support Dr. Crosby, his position will be upheld; if I find that the facts support the posi¬ tion of those who disagreed with Dr. Crosby at the hearing, their position will be upheld. I do think it important that readers of The Journal understand that this matter has been in litigation and that, as a result, a reply from me at this time would constitute a violation of my duties as an impartial arbiter on this issue. Alexander M. Schmidt, MD Commissioner of Food and Drugs Food and Drug Administration
Pancreatitis\p=m-\ARare
Complication? To the Editor.\p=m-\Numerous articles have been published on pancreatitis and some of the ensuing common
complications. Recently, we saw a pa-
tient who had pancreatitis and a possible complication that may or may not have been associated with his primary disease process.
Report of a Case. \p=m-\This47-year-old man admitted to the hospital with a twoweek history of abdominal pain, primarily located in the left side of his abdomen, was
with some radiation to the left shoulder and down toward the left hip. The patient stated that the pain was not associated with eating and was not relieved with analgesics. There was history of previous peptic ulcer disease, but no gallbladder disease. The patient denied any change in his bowel habits. On admission, blood pressure was 120/80 mm Hg, hemoglobin value was 13.5 mg/100 ml, and white blood cell count was 9,000, with a normal differential cell count. Physical examination showed tenderness on the left side of the abdomen both in the left upper and the left lower quad¬ rants, and the patient complained of some mild pain in the left shoulder top area. On the third day of diagnostic tests, with a presumptive diagnosis of diverticular dis-
patient had a barium enema, re¬ sults of which were normal. Shortly after the barium enema, the patient suddenly complained of severe abdominal pain, fol¬ lowing which he suddenly showed clinical evidence of hypovolemic shock, with blood pressure falling to 80/60 mm Hg and marked tachycardia. The patient immedi¬ ately was resuscitated with intravenous fluid administration. Repeat abdominal xray films showed no free gas in the peri¬ toneal cavity. The hemoglobin value was now 10.5 mg/100 ml, with a white blood cell count of 15,500; serum amylase determina¬ tion was 660 units. After fluid resuscita¬ tion, the patient's condition stabilized and abdominal examination revealed a markedly tender abdomen throughout, without rigidity. The diagnosis of hemoperitoneum was made and the patient was immediately taken to surgery. At surgery, he was found to have a ruptured subcapsular hematoma of the spleen, and a rather extensive pancreatitis. The pancreatitis was mainly located in the body and the tail of the pancreas; there appeared to be en¬ zymatic digestion of some of the tissue in the area of the hilum of the spleen. A spleease, the
nectomy
was
performed. Postoperatively,
the patient made an uneventful recovery. Careful review of the patient's history failed to find any history of trauma at any time prior to his hospital admission.
Comment. -The association of pan¬ creatitis and subcapsular hematoma of the spleen is not mentioned as one of the frequent complications of pan¬ creatitis, although one could postulate that the enzymes from the pancre¬ atitis might digest the capsule of the spleen, with subsequent formation of subcapsular hematoma and rupture. A second possibility is that these are
two
same individual, but it would reasonable to include both these
in the seem
separate processes occurring
processes
as one
entity. Melvyn J. Michaelian, MD Gerald H. Evers, MD Whittier, Calif
Epitomies Sheldon B. Cohen, MD, of Atlanta perceptively notes the speed with which eight marathon runners romped across The Journal's editorial pages (229:1637, 1974). "All completed 26 1/4 miles with an average pace of 5.4 mph in just under three hours." Robert A. Bruce, MD, author of the editorial, suspects that the average time originally was written as five, misinterpreted and typed as three, and unhappily published\p=m-\despiteall the checking that attempts to avoid such errors. (Dr. Cohen, incidentally, noting the mails being what they are, regrets that runners cannot ...
be recruited to make deliveries, which he is would speed receipt of The Journal.) B. B. Diena, PhD, of Ottawa calls attention to the inadvertent omission of the
sure
of Dr. F. Ota as co-author of Dr. Diena's letter, "Colonial Morphology of Neisseria gonorrhoeae" (229:1422, 1974). Dr. Ota was in fact responsible for the electron microscopy work. Donald B. Vogel, MD, of Silver Spring, Md, comments on a recent report of Munchausen syndrome (230:89, 1974). He sug¬ gests that such patients (and, when appro¬ priate, their families) be "confronted" with the diagnosis-with a view to psy¬ chiatric treatment. Noting the distressing incidence of sui¬ cide by physicians, Paul E. Gutman, MD, of Pompano Beach, Fla, suggests a na¬ tional registry of such occurrences, includ¬ ing suicide attempts and suspected sui¬ cides. He hopes that the registry may provide clues to the causes—with a view to name
preventive
measures.
Charles M. Bancroft, MD, of Wilming¬ ton, Del, expresses disappointment about the elimination of the AMA Department of Medicine and Religion. Carl E. Bartecchi, MD, of Pueblo, Colo, calls attention to his article in the Rocky Mountain Medical Journal (70:47, 1973). The article describes a technique for roentgenographic diagnosis of pericardial tu¬ mors.
Referring to Dr. Sergio Gonzalez's de¬ scription of an instrument for emergency cricothyrotomy (230:669, 1974), Louis Abelson, MD, of Yonkers, NY, informs us that in 1961 he designed a much simpler device for similar purposes and that it has
tions ceased, and his
respiratory function
Melvin A. Benarde, MD, of Philadelphia takes issue with Dr. Dennis Burkitt and colleagues (229:1068, 1974) who, in the opening statement of their communication on dietary fiber and disease, emphasized the role of drugs in decreasing death and morbidity from infectious diseases. By contrast, Dr. Benarde stresses the impor¬ tance of modern environmental sanitation. Victor J. Weil, MD, of Fair Lawn, NJ, takes exception to a medical news article on implantable lenses (229:1713, 1974). Dr. Weil, among others, reminds us that the intraocular artificial implants in cataract surgery involve a controversial procedure. He prefers more traditional techniques. In a strongly worded letter, F. R. Wil¬ liams, MD, of Mountain View, Calif, chal¬ lenges the concept (229:1743, 1974) that physicians can successfully motivate pa¬ tients to avoid smoking, to modify their diets, and to take prescribed medication. Richard H. Marshak, MD, of New York writes with displeasure about Dr. Gerald Marks's article, "Flexible Fiberoptic Colonoscopy" (228:1411, 1974). Among other things, Dr. Marshak contends that the re¬ moval of benign polyps by colonoscope has
Downloaded From: http://jama.jamanetwork.com/ by a New York University User on 05/19/2015
viduals. Charles A. Linke, MD, of Rochester, NY, endorses Dr. William Daly's contention (228:1370, 1974) that radio playing has no place in an operating room. He considers noise, pleasant or otherwise, to be dis¬
tracting. Finally, Barbara Murphy, of the AMA Department of Drugs continues to receive inquiries about the context in which her letter on hypervitaminosis E was written (227:1381, 1974). The Journal failed to make clear that the publication was a com¬ ment on a letter to the editor by Harold M. Cohen, MD, that appeared in California Medicine (119:72, 1973) and the New En¬ gland Journal of Medicine (289:980, 1973).
en¬
joyed successful use. William P. Kavanagh, MD, of Salisbury, NC, writes that he must repeatedly receive intermittent positive-pressure breathing (IPPB) as a patient. He notes that coinci¬ dental to his hospital beginning to use a gas sterilizer for its IPPB equipment, his repeated Gram-negative respiratory infec¬ improved.
not reduced the incidence of carcinoma of the colon. Dr. Marks, however, points out that in view of the brief period during which colonoscopic polypectomy has been performed, it would be impossible to ap¬ praise the eiïect on the incidence of carci¬ noma of the colon. Henry L. Wright, MD, of Boca Grande, Fla, suggests that at scientific meetings, the rooms have smoking sections and non¬ smoking sections—according to the custom on airplanes and in some theaters and other public places. Charles G. Roland, MD, of Rochester, Minn, reports attending a meeting recently where, after some people complained about the amount of smoking, a sectioning arrangement was made. This seemed to satisfy all but one or two indi¬
J.D.A.
McCormick, Not McCormack. \p=m-\In the SPECIAL COMMUNICATION, "How the Oral Contraceptives Came to be Developed," published in the Oct 21 issue (230:421-425, 1974), the surname of Mrs. Katharine Dexter Mc\x=req-\ Cormick was misspelled McCormack throughout the article. Erroneous
References. \p=m-\In
the J. Walker, MD, titled "Government-Subsidized Death and Disability," published in the Dec 16 issue (230:1529-1530, 1974), references were cited incorrectly. Errors were made in the first column of page 1530. In the second line, reference 4 should have been cited instead of American Medical News; contrariwise, in the seventh line under the heading "Tobacco Paradox," American Medical News, May 27, 1974, should have been cited, not reference 4. Finally, the source of the statement made in point 1 is the "Agricultural Statistics, US Dept of Agriculture, 1972," in addition to reference 3, which COMMENTARY
was
cited
by Weldon
correctly.
early youth.
Our greatest problem is associated with the postoperative scars; the sub¬ cutaneous tissue is thin and has a
tendency
to
Erling Bo Andersen, MD Helmer Burchardt, MD Palle Taarnh\l=o/\j,MD
Copenhagen
1. Hurley HJ, Shelley WB: A simple surgical approach management of axillary hyperhidrosis. JAMA 186:109-112, 1963.
to the
2. Midholm S, Taarnh\l=o/\j P: Hyperhidrosis Ugeskr Laeger 134:1528-1531, 1972.
Error in
etc.
Louis Lasagna, MD School of Medicine and
rupture during healing.
In 35% of the patients operated on, the scar was linear, in 40%, 0.5 to 1.5 cm in width, and in 25%, wider than 1.5 cm. However, the effect on perspi¬ ration has been satisfactory; 64% of the patients were completely satis¬ fied, 29% were pleased, and 7% dis¬ satisfied. In some cases with poor re¬ sults, a larger area of skin has subsequently been excised.
axillae.
Mithramycin
in Annals of Internal Medicine
Dosage
Iron in Bread To the Editor.\p=m-\Arecent article in The Journal by Dr. William H. Crosby (228:1651, 1974) raised about six points, as I remember, that represent important accusations about the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). If Crosby is correct, then the situation is shameful. If he is incorrect, then he is doing the FDA a great disservice. I would hope that Crosby could be invited to document such charges as "fraudulent chronology,"
To the Editor.\p=m-\Anerror in drug dosage was published on page 68 in the
article, "Therapy of Fluid and Electrolyte Disorders," by R. D. Lindeman and S. Papper, in the January
1975 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine (82:64, 1975). The doses of mithramycin for treatment of hypercalcemia, as described in the fifth paragraph of the first column on page 68, should be 25\g=m\gper kilogram of body weight and 150\g=m\g per kilogram of body weight per week, not 25 mg per kilogram of body weight and 150 mg per kilogram of body weight per week, as published. Readers of The Journal should call this error to the attention of their colleagues and librarians (who should correct this error in library copies). A notice of this error is being published in the March 1975 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine. Edward Huth, MD, Editor Annals of Internal Medicine
Philadelphia
Dentistry University of Rochester Rochester, NY
reply by Dr. Crosby in response to Dr. Lasagna's letter appears on page 10b~U- The following letter by Dr. Alexander M. Schmidt, Commissioner of Food and Drugs, explains why he considers it inappropriate to respond- to Dr. Crosby's A
commentary
at this time.-Ed.
To the Editor.\p=m-\For
reasons
of fair-
ness, the Food and
Drug Administration has adopted a policy of strict "separation of functions" with respect to all matters subject to formal public hearings. In these matters, the
Bureau acts as the advocate for its in the hearing held before the Administrative Law Judge, and the office of the Commissioner is precluded from any contact with the Bureau on that matter after the notice of hearing has been published in the Federal Register. After the hearing is completed, the Administrative Law Judge transmits the record, together with his recommendations, to me for a decision. I act, in this capacity, in the same way as does a judge who hears a case tried before him. I am precluded from any discussion of the
position
matter that
might
be construed as from any contact with the Bureau or any other party, or from consideration of any evidence other than that presented at the hearing. If I violate any of these rules, I would be disqualified from participat¬ ing in the decision. I believe that members of the scien¬ tific community will agree that this type of impartial consideration is es¬ sential to our concepts of fair play and due process of law in a demo¬ cratic society. I believe they will also understand why, in view of the fact that the matter is now pending be¬ fore me for a decision, I am not in a position to offer any comment what-
prejudgment,
Downloaded From: http://jama.jamanetwork.com/ by a New York University User on 05/19/2015
ever on the various communications that have already appeared in The Journal or that are in the process of
publication. My decision, indeed, can take into account only the evidence presented at the hearing by Dr. Crosby and others, and cannot con¬
sider any additional extrarecord views or information that might be printed in The Journal. My decision will be forthcoming within the next few weeks. It will, of course, contain a full discussion of the reasons for that decision. I can assure all concerned that it will be based solely on the scientific facts that have been presented at the hearing, and not on emotion or argumentation. If I find that the facts support Dr. Crosby, his position will be upheld; if I find that the facts support the posi¬ tion of those who disagreed with Dr. Crosby at the hearing, their position will be upheld. I do think it important that readers of The Journal understand that this matter has been in litigation and that, as a result, a reply from me at this time would constitute a violation of my duties as an impartial arbiter on this issue. Alexander M. Schmidt, MD Commissioner of Food and Drugs Food and Drug Administration
Pancreatitis\p=m-\ARare
Complication? To the Editor.\p=m-\Numerous articles have been published on pancreatitis and some of the ensuing common
complications. Recently, we saw a pa-
tient who had pancreatitis and a possible complication that may or may not have been associated with his primary disease process.
Report of a Case. \p=m-\This47-year-old man admitted to the hospital with a twoweek history of abdominal pain, primarily located in the left side of his abdomen, was
with some radiation to the left shoulder and down toward the left hip. The patient stated that the pain was not associated with eating and was not relieved with analgesics. There was history of previous peptic ulcer disease, but no gallbladder disease. The patient denied any change in his bowel habits. On admission, blood pressure was 120/80 mm Hg, hemoglobin value was 13.5 mg/100 ml, and white blood cell count was 9,000, with a normal differential cell count. Physical examination showed tenderness on the left side of the abdomen both in the left upper and the left lower quad¬ rants, and the patient complained of some mild pain in the left shoulder top area. On the third day of diagnostic tests, with a presumptive diagnosis of diverticular dis-
patient had a barium enema, re¬ sults of which were normal. Shortly after the barium enema, the patient suddenly complained of severe abdominal pain, fol¬ lowing which he suddenly showed clinical evidence of hypovolemic shock, with blood pressure falling to 80/60 mm Hg and marked tachycardia. The patient immedi¬ ately was resuscitated with intravenous fluid administration. Repeat abdominal xray films showed no free gas in the peri¬ toneal cavity. The hemoglobin value was now 10.5 mg/100 ml, with a white blood cell count of 15,500; serum amylase determina¬ tion was 660 units. After fluid resuscita¬ tion, the patient's condition stabilized and abdominal examination revealed a markedly tender abdomen throughout, without rigidity. The diagnosis of hemoperitoneum was made and the patient was immediately taken to surgery. At surgery, he was found to have a ruptured subcapsular hematoma of the spleen, and a rather extensive pancreatitis. The pancreatitis was mainly located in the body and the tail of the pancreas; there appeared to be en¬ zymatic digestion of some of the tissue in the area of the hilum of the spleen. A spleease, the
nectomy
was
performed. Postoperatively,
the patient made an uneventful recovery. Careful review of the patient's history failed to find any history of trauma at any time prior to his hospital admission.
Comment. -The association of pan¬ creatitis and subcapsular hematoma of the spleen is not mentioned as one of the frequent complications of pan¬ creatitis, although one could postulate that the enzymes from the pancre¬ atitis might digest the capsule of the spleen, with subsequent formation of subcapsular hematoma and rupture. A second possibility is that these are
two
same individual, but it would reasonable to include both these
in the seem
separate processes occurring
processes
as one
entity. Melvyn J. Michaelian, MD Gerald H. Evers, MD Whittier, Calif
Epitomies Sheldon B. Cohen, MD, of Atlanta perceptively notes the speed with which eight marathon runners romped across The Journal's editorial pages (229:1637, 1974). "All completed 26 1/4 miles with an average pace of 5.4 mph in just under three hours." Robert A. Bruce, MD, author of the editorial, suspects that the average time originally was written as five, misinterpreted and typed as three, and unhappily published\p=m-\despiteall the checking that attempts to avoid such errors. (Dr. Cohen, incidentally, noting the mails being what they are, regrets that runners cannot ...
be recruited to make deliveries, which he is would speed receipt of The Journal.) B. B. Diena, PhD, of Ottawa calls attention to the inadvertent omission of the
sure
of Dr. F. Ota as co-author of Dr. Diena's letter, "Colonial Morphology of Neisseria gonorrhoeae" (229:1422, 1974). Dr. Ota was in fact responsible for the electron microscopy work. Donald B. Vogel, MD, of Silver Spring, Md, comments on a recent report of Munchausen syndrome (230:89, 1974). He sug¬ gests that such patients (and, when appro¬ priate, their families) be "confronted" with the diagnosis-with a view to psy¬ chiatric treatment. Noting the distressing incidence of sui¬ cide by physicians, Paul E. Gutman, MD, of Pompano Beach, Fla, suggests a na¬ tional registry of such occurrences, includ¬ ing suicide attempts and suspected sui¬ cides. He hopes that the registry may provide clues to the causes—with a view to name
preventive
measures.
Charles M. Bancroft, MD, of Wilming¬ ton, Del, expresses disappointment about the elimination of the AMA Department of Medicine and Religion. Carl E. Bartecchi, MD, of Pueblo, Colo, calls attention to his article in the Rocky Mountain Medical Journal (70:47, 1973). The article describes a technique for roentgenographic diagnosis of pericardial tu¬ mors.
Referring to Dr. Sergio Gonzalez's de¬ scription of an instrument for emergency cricothyrotomy (230:669, 1974), Louis Abelson, MD, of Yonkers, NY, informs us that in 1961 he designed a much simpler device for similar purposes and that it has
tions ceased, and his
respiratory function
Melvin A. Benarde, MD, of Philadelphia takes issue with Dr. Dennis Burkitt and colleagues (229:1068, 1974) who, in the opening statement of their communication on dietary fiber and disease, emphasized the role of drugs in decreasing death and morbidity from infectious diseases. By contrast, Dr. Benarde stresses the impor¬ tance of modern environmental sanitation. Victor J. Weil, MD, of Fair Lawn, NJ, takes exception to a medical news article on implantable lenses (229:1713, 1974). Dr. Weil, among others, reminds us that the intraocular artificial implants in cataract surgery involve a controversial procedure. He prefers more traditional techniques. In a strongly worded letter, F. R. Wil¬ liams, MD, of Mountain View, Calif, chal¬ lenges the concept (229:1743, 1974) that physicians can successfully motivate pa¬ tients to avoid smoking, to modify their diets, and to take prescribed medication. Richard H. Marshak, MD, of New York writes with displeasure about Dr. Gerald Marks's article, "Flexible Fiberoptic Colonoscopy" (228:1411, 1974). Among other things, Dr. Marshak contends that the re¬ moval of benign polyps by colonoscope has
Downloaded From: http://jama.jamanetwork.com/ by a New York University User on 05/19/2015
viduals. Charles A. Linke, MD, of Rochester, NY, endorses Dr. William Daly's contention (228:1370, 1974) that radio playing has no place in an operating room. He considers noise, pleasant or otherwise, to be dis¬
tracting. Finally, Barbara Murphy, of the AMA Department of Drugs continues to receive inquiries about the context in which her letter on hypervitaminosis E was written (227:1381, 1974). The Journal failed to make clear that the publication was a com¬ ment on a letter to the editor by Harold M. Cohen, MD, that appeared in California Medicine (119:72, 1973) and the New En¬ gland Journal of Medicine (289:980, 1973).
en¬
joyed successful use. William P. Kavanagh, MD, of Salisbury, NC, writes that he must repeatedly receive intermittent positive-pressure breathing (IPPB) as a patient. He notes that coinci¬ dental to his hospital beginning to use a gas sterilizer for its IPPB equipment, his repeated Gram-negative respiratory infec¬ improved.
not reduced the incidence of carcinoma of the colon. Dr. Marks, however, points out that in view of the brief period during which colonoscopic polypectomy has been performed, it would be impossible to ap¬ praise the eiïect on the incidence of carci¬ noma of the colon. Henry L. Wright, MD, of Boca Grande, Fla, suggests that at scientific meetings, the rooms have smoking sections and non¬ smoking sections—according to the custom on airplanes and in some theaters and other public places. Charles G. Roland, MD, of Rochester, Minn, reports attending a meeting recently where, after some people complained about the amount of smoking, a sectioning arrangement was made. This seemed to satisfy all but one or two indi¬
J.D.A.
McCormick, Not McCormack. \p=m-\In the SPECIAL COMMUNICATION, "How the Oral Contraceptives Came to be Developed," published in the Oct 21 issue (230:421-425, 1974), the surname of Mrs. Katharine Dexter Mc\x=req-\ Cormick was misspelled McCormack throughout the article. Erroneous
References. \p=m-\In
the J. Walker, MD, titled "Government-Subsidized Death and Disability," published in the Dec 16 issue (230:1529-1530, 1974), references were cited incorrectly. Errors were made in the first column of page 1530. In the second line, reference 4 should have been cited instead of American Medical News; contrariwise, in the seventh line under the heading "Tobacco Paradox," American Medical News, May 27, 1974, should have been cited, not reference 4. Finally, the source of the statement made in point 1 is the "Agricultural Statistics, US Dept of Agriculture, 1972," in addition to reference 3, which COMMENTARY
was
cited
by Weldon
correctly.
