Index Medicus 
EDITORIAL. 
THE CLASSIFICATION OF SUBJECTS ADOPTED IN THE INDEX MEDICUS. 
The approaching publication of the revision of the “ Nomenclature of diseases, 
of the Royal College of Physicians of London,” is an occurrence of particular 
interest to the medical profession everywhere. As the classification adopted in 
the Index Medicus was founded upon the original edition of that work, and as 
it is somewhat changed in the present number in order to correspond with the 
alterations introduced in the Revised Nomenclature, it is thought desirable to 
print the scheme entire, with a few words of explanation. 
The Nomenclature of the Royal College of Physicians of London was pub- 
lished in 18G9, after twelve years of labor in which the compilers had been 
assisted by eminent physicians of France, Germany, and Ital}'. It is the standard 
on which are based the returns to the Registrar-General of England, and the 
records of the medical department of the army. 
It is, in the main, the classification directed to be used by the surgeons of 
the United States Army, and which is employed in the Marine Hospital Service. 
The United States has been represented on the committee in charge of the 
revision of this nomenclature, and it is from advance sheets of the work that 
certain changes have been selected for the classification of the Index Medicus. 
It is not to be understood that the latter follows exactly the standard in question, 
for medical bibliography requires a more comprehensive arrangement than is 
needed for returns of death and disease only. 
It will be seen that a new division has been formed, viz., — Morbid states and 
processes (independent of part or parts affected). This includes such conditions 
as atrophy, hypertrophy, anaemia, dropsy, etc., which were before placed under 
constitutional diseases. The two original classes of “ General diseases” have been 
expanded into four, in the first of which, under its revised title, are properly 
included hydrophobia and venereal diseases. In the Revised Nomenclature poisons 
form a sub-group of Class B, but in our scheme it retains its place under medical 
jurisprudence, with which its literature is mainly connected. We also retain the 
former division of Gynaecology, with its two subdivisions of Diseases of women, 
and Obstetrics. The Revised Nomenclature places the whole as a subdivision of 
Diseases of the genital organs, which is evidently proper for the return of cases ; 
but in the Index Medicus the term gynaecology includes the anatomy and physi- 
ol >;y of the subject, which would be out of place under the heading of diseases. 
Some other changes will be observed, which require no special comment. Index Mcdicits. 
[Jan., ’S4. 
CLASSIFICATION OF SUBJECTS. 
I. Bibliography, History, and Literature. 
Biography. 
II. Periodicals, Transactions, and Reports. 
III. Biology. 
Anthropology. 
Craniology. 
Anatomy, Histology, and Embryology. 
Comparative Anatomy and Embryology. 
Microscopy. 
Abnormities. 
Monsters. 
Physiology. See, also, Dermatology; Gynaecology; Medical Physics; 
Ophthalmology; Otology. 
Comparative Physiology. 
Physiology of the Circulatory System. 
Physiology of the Digestive System. 
Physiology of the Genito-Urinary System. 
Physiology of the Nervous System. 
Physiology of the Respiratory System. 
Medical Physics and Chemistry. 
IV. Medicine. 
Pathology and Pathological Anatomy. 
Practice of Medicine. — General. 
Diagnosis. 
Morbid States and Processes (independent of part affected). 
Anaemia. 
General Diseases. — A. (Diseases dependent on morbid poisons.) 
Cerebrospinal Meningitis. 
Charbon. (Synon. Malignant Pustule; Splenic Fever.) 
Cholera. 
Diphtheria. See, also, Croup; Tracheotomy. 
Erysipelas. 
Hooping-Cough. , N 
Hydrophobia. 
Malarial Diseases. 
Measles. 
Plague. 
Scarlatina. 
Septicaemia and Pyaemia. 
Small-pox. 
Typhus and Typhoid Fever. 
Venereal Diseases. 
Gonorrhoea. See, also, Diseases of the Conjunctiva: Rheu- 
matism. 
Syphilis. See, also, under diseases of various organs. 
Yellow Fever. Classification of Subjects. 
General Diseases. — B. (Diseases dependent on external agents other than 
morbid poisons.) 
Diseases dependent on Parasites. 
Triehiniasis. 
General Diseases. — C. (Developmental diseases.) 
General Diseases. — I). (Constitutional Diseases.) See, also. Diseases of 
the Skin. 
Cancer. See, also, under diseases of organs. 
Diabetes. 
Gout. See, also, Rheumatism. 
Leprosy. 
Rheumatism. See, also, Gout. 
Scrofula. 
Tuberculosis. See, also, Phthisis; Scrofula; and under diseases of 
organs. 
Diseases of the Nervous System. 
Alcoholism, Opium-habit, etc. 
Aphasia. 
Chorea. 
Diseases of the Brain and Meninges. 
Diseases of the Spinal Cord anil Meninges. 
Epilepsy. 
Hysteria and Hystero-Epilepsy. 
Insanity. See, also, Epilepsy; Medical Jurisprudence; Paralysis. 
Locomotor Ataxy. 
Neuralgia. 
Paralysis. 
Tetanus and Tetany. 
Diseases of the Circulatory System. 
Aneurism. 
Diseases of the Heart. 
Diseases of the Respiratory System. See, also, Diseases of the Throat. 
Croup. See, also, Tracheotomy. 
Diseases of the Pleura. See, also, Surgery of the Chest. 
Phthisis. 
Pneumonia. 
Diseases of the Digestive System. See, also, Parasites. 
Diarrhoeal Diseases. 
Diseases of the Biliary System. 
Diseases of the Liver. 
Diseases of the Mouth, Tongue, and (Esophagus. See, also, Dis- 
eases of the Throat; Surgery of the Head and Neck. 
Diseases of the Rectum. See, also, Surgery of the Chest and 
Abdomen. 
Diseases of the Spleen. See, also, Surgery of the Chest and 
Abdomen. 
Diseases of the Stomach. See, also, Surgery of the Chest and 
Abdomen. 
Obstruction of the Intestines. See, also, Surgery of the Chest and 
Abdomen. 
Diseases of the Genito-Urinary System (Male). See, also, Surgery of the 
Genito-Urinary Organs. Index Madicus. 
[ Jan./S^ 
Diseases of the Bladder. Sec, also, Surgery of the Bladder. 
Diseases of the Kidneys. See, also, Surgery of the Chest and 
Abdomen. 
Bright’s Disease. 
Diseases of the Lymphatics and Ductless Glands. See, also, Surgei-y of the 
Head and Neck. 
Medical Geography, Climatology, and Statistics. 
Medical Geography. 
Medical Statistics. 
Hospital Reports and Clinical Medicine. 
V. Therapeutics and Materia Medica. 
Therapeutics. For Surgical Therapeutics see General Surgery. 
Anaesthetics. See, also, Poisoning by Anaesthetics. 
Antiseptics and Disinfectants. See, also, Treatment of Wounds. 
Drug Exanthems. 
Electrotherapy. 
Hydrotherapy. 
Metallotherapy. 
Transfusion of Blood and Intravenous Injections. 
Pharmacology and Materia Medica. 
Botany. 
VI. Surgery. 
General Surgery. 
Operative Surgery and Surgical Anatomy. 
Surgical Instruments and Apparatus. 
Surgery of the Head and Neck. 
Tracheotomy (including Laryngotomy and Bronchotomy). 
Surgery of the Chest and Abdomen. 
Hernia. 
Surgery of the Extremities. 
Amputations. 
Excisions. 
Surgery of the Genito-Urinary Organs (Male). 
Hydrocele. 
Lithotomy and Lithotrity. 
Surgery of the Bladder. 
Surgery of the Urethra. 
Wounds, Injuries, and Accidents. See, also, Medical Jurisprudence; Tetanus. 
Asphyxia. 
Burns. See, also, Ulcers, . . . and Contractions. 
Dislocations. 
Fractures. 
Gunshot Wounds. 
Treatment of Wounds. 
Ulcers, Abscesses, Fistulse, and Contractions. 
Abscesses. 
Tumors. 
Diseases of the Locomotive System. 
Diseases of the Bones. 
Diseases of the Joints. Classification of Subjects. 
Diseases of the Spine. 
Orthopaedic and Plastic Surgery. 
VII. Gynecology. 
Gynaecological Instruments and Apparatus. 
A. Diseases of Women. Sec, also, Hysteria. 
Diseases of the Bladder in the Female. 
Diseases of the Uterus. 
Diseases of the Cervix Uteri. 
Displacements of the Uterus.' 
Excision of the Uterus. 
Tumors of the Uterus. 
Diseases of the Vulva and Vagina. 
Disorders of Menstruation. 
Genito-Urinary Fistula;. 
Ovarian Diseases and Ovariotomy. 
B, Obstetrics. See, also, Monsters. 
Diflicult or Complicated Labor. 
Caesarean Section. 
Rupture and Surgery of the Perineum. 
Management of Labor. 
Pregnancy and Complications. 
Extra-Uterine Pregnancy. 
Puerperal Convulsions. 
Puerperal State and Complications. 
Puerperal Septicaemia. 
VIII. Diseases and Hygiene of Children. See, also, under general and local 
diseases. 
IX. Dermatology. See, also, Syphilis. 
Diseases of the Skin. See, also, Drug Exanlhems 
Vaccination. 
X. Ophthalmology. 
Diseases of the Choroid, Retina, and Optic Nerve. 
Diseases of the Conjunctiva. 
Diseases of the Cornea. 
Diseases of the Eyelids. 
Diseases of the Iris. 
Diseases of the Lachrymal Apparatus. 
Diseases of the Lens and Capsule. '] 
Cataract. 
Functional Disorders and Exploration of the Eye. 
Glaucoma. 
Surgery of the Eye. 
Tumors of the Eye and Orbit. 
Wounds and Injuries of the Eye. 
XI. Otology and Diseases of the Nose and Throat. 
Otology. 
Diseases of the External Ear. Index Mcdicus. 
[Jan., ’S4. 
Diseases of the Internal Ear. 
Diseases of the Middle Ear. 
Wounds and Injuries of the Ear. 
Diseases of the Nose and Naso-Phaiynx. See, also, Surgery of the Head 
and Neck. 
Wounds and Injuries of the Nose. 
Diseases of the Throat. See, also, Surgery of the Head and Neck. 
Diseases of the Larynx. See, also, Surgery of the Head and Neck; 
Tracheotomy. 
XII. Diseases of the Teetii and Dentistry. 
XIII State Medicine. 
Condition of Medicine and Medical Ethics. 
Hygiene and Public Hygiene. See, also, Antiseptics and Disinfectants. 
Construction and Management of Hospitals. 
Heating and Ventilation. 
Hygiene of Cities. 
Hygiene of Habitations. 
Hygiene of Occupations. 
Hygiene of Person. 
Hygiene and Prevention of Epidemics. 
Hygiene of Schools. 
Inspection and Disposal of the Dead. 
Inspection of Food and Drugs. j 
Sewerage, Drainage, and Water Supply. 
Medical Education and Schools. 
Medical Jurisprudence. 
Toxicology. 
Poisoning by Arsenic. 
Poisoning by Carbolic Acid. 
Poisoning by Anaesthetics. 
Poisoning by Lead. 
Poisoning by Opium. 
Military and Naval Medicine. 
J. 
XIV. Veterinary Medicine. 
XV Miscellaneous.