★ a********************** The Army Medical Library Classification AN INFORMATIONAL OUTLINE ★ ★★★**★★* ★ *★*★★**** DISTRIBUTED BY SPECIAL SERVICES* LIBRARY SERVICE* VETERANS ADMINISTRATION WASHINGTON 25, D. C. MARCH 1947 INTRODUCTION The Army Medical Library Classification has been developed under the direction of a Classification Committee, composed of representatives of the Army Medical Library, the Library of Congress and the Survey Committee and was made possible, by a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation. The work has been done by Miss Mary Louise Marshall, in close cooperation with specialists in the respective medical subjects. It has been a basic provision in the development of the classification that the new schedules should have the benefit of an experimental try-out in the Army Medical Library, with the adjustment and revision consequent to that process, before being made available for use elsewhere. Since the cataloging of the medical libraries of the VA is to be directed by the Catalog Division of the Army Medical Library, present use of the classification is being extended to these medical libraries. This outline has been prepared to serve as an informational guide for the medical librarians of the VA. It is not to be used in the actual classification of books by this new system. For further and more specific information, questions should be addressed to the Catalog Division of the Army Medical Library. This classification is correlated with that of the Library of Congress, and for its location within this system, assignment has been made of a block of letters previously unused (QS - QZ and W), since it was found to be impossible to incorporate into a revision of the former tables for Medicine (QM - QR and R), the advantageous features planned for the new tables. The general schedules of the Library of Congress classification are thus available for the arrangement of all material of a nature not strictly medical. The order of the new tables is that advised by the consulting medical specialists. The tables QS - QZ and W are thus completely new. They include a number of schemes for subjects for which insufficient or no provision had previously been made. Uniform notation has been devised for form divisions and other types of general material in each class, thereby making it easier for users to familiarize themselves with the classification. Provision has been made for standard subdivisions whenever necessary, through the use of floating tables. The etiologic classification of the Standard Nomenclature of Disease* has been incorporated into the classification in such a way that this widely used index may serve the librarian as a guide to the classification of books on pathological conditions. And final- ly, items relating to a single anatomic structure have been grouped together (anatomy, physiology, hygiene and diseases). The spread of the classification has enabled this to be accomplished with comparatively short class marks; only occasionally do numbers run to four digits. Explanation of the Medical Classification. The style of the notation is that of the Library of Congress classification, a combination of capital letters followed by serial numbers. The letters assigned for the new medical classification are: QS - QZ Preclinical Sciences QS Human anatomy, histology, embryology and physical anthropology QT Physiology QT Biochemistry QV Pharmacology QW Bacteriology QX Parasitology QY Immunology QZ Pathology Medicine and Related Subjects W Medicine, General WA Public health WB Practice of medicine, General WC Body as a whole WD Regions of the body WE Musculo-skeletal system Integumentary system WF Respiratory system Medicine and Related Subjects (Cont.) WG Cardiovascular system Hemic and Lymphatic system WI Digestive system WJ Urogenital system WK Endocrine system WL Nervous system WM Psychiatry WN Radiology WO Surgery WP Gynecology Sex. Reproduction Obstetrics WS Pediatrics Adolescence WT Geriatrics WU Oral surgery and dentistry WV Otorhinolaryngology WW Ophthalmology WX Hospitals WY Nursing * Jordan, E. P., ed. med. assn. 1943. Standard nomenclature of disease and standard nomenclature of operations. npl022 Amer. It should be noted that because of the policy to group together all aspects of a single body structure, class QS is automatically limited to material dealing with human anatomy, histology and embryology in general, and QT to physiology in general; whereas the anatomy of a specific system, such as the respiratory system, is classified in WF, the anatomy of the heart in WG, etc. Biochemistry, formerly a part of the section on physiology, is given a separate schedule immediately adjacent to physiology. Pharmacology, formerly classed with therapeutics and materia medica is now considered a basic science, as distinct from therapeutics, closely related to physiology and biochemistry, and is so located in the new scheme. Bacteriology and parasitology are given separate schedules in adjacent location, closely followed by the newly developing and closely related subject of immunology. Pathology, formerly classed with clinical medicine, is transferredto the preclinical sciences, in accordance with medical thought of today. In the early parts of W, provision has been made for the classification of material on medical education and research, medical licensure, medical ethics, social relations of the physician, types of medical practice, medical economics, medical service plans (including so-called socialized medicine), and special collections of material having to do with physi- cians and medicine in non-medical fields. A scheme for the arrangement of material on the history of medicine is provided, either in W as part of the general classification, or as is planned for the Army Medical Library, in a separate history collection. The schedule for medical jurisprudence is limited to the application of medical and dental knowledge to legal problems. Material on laws relating to special medical subjects such as public health, medical licensure, malpractice, hospitals, the mentally ill, etc., is assigned to a uniform location in the respective schedules devoted to those subjects. The section WA Public health, provides for the classification of material on public health law, vital statistics, preventive medicine, sanitation and sanitary control, the con- trol of infectious disease, accident prevention, health, problems of special population groups, industrial hygiene, and health organization and administration. WB is devoted to the practice of medicine in general, including general diagnosis and therapeutics. Numbers are provided for the arrangement of material on clinical diagnosis, dietotherapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, etc. Following these is a scheme for the classification of items on medical geography, climatology and meteorology, including the effect of hot and cold climates and high and low air pressure on the human organism. Sections WC - WL provide for the arrangement of material on the body as a whole, regions of the body, and systems of the body. Throughout the classification, theoretical logic in grouping has, whenever necessary, been sacrificed in favor of practical usage. This is clearly shown in the segregation of certain classes by medical specialty rather than strictly by body region or system. For instance, WV is devoted to otorhinolaryngology and includes the nose (respiratory system), pharynx (digestive system) and ear (organs of special sense). In practice these organs are treated in one specialty; hence the grouping in the classification. Likewise, WJ Urogenital system is made to include only the male and female urinary system and the male genital system, thus conforming to the usage found in the medical specialty urology. The classifi- cation of the female genital system is in WP, where it is adjacent to obstetrics, since the specialties of gynecology and obstetrics are not only closely related, but are often combined in the subject treated. WM Psychiatry follows WL Nervous system, with which it is closely related. WN Radiology, for which no adequate provision had been made in the older classification, pre- cedes WO Surgery. It should be noted that WN Radiology and WO Surgery, like the schemes for anatomy and physiology, are for the classification of these subjects only in their general aspects. Radiotherapy of a given organ and surgery of a system or organ are classed with the system or organ treated. 2 The age groups, WS pediatrics and Adolescence and WT Geriatrics, a new field, follow in succession. The schedule WV Otorhinolaryngology stands between its natural neighbors WU Oral surgery and dentistry and WW Ophthalmology, all three being distinct specialties in medical practice. The classification finishes with WX Hospitals and WY Nursing. The letters WH, WQ, WR and WZ are left open for the possible preparation of schedules on completely new sub- jects, should need arise in the future. Every effort has been made to choose terminology in accordance with accepted usage. Common synonyms are noted and indexed throughout. Uniformity in order and in notation is provided for general types of material in each schedule by the assignment of the numbers 1-32 to the same aspects of a subjects through- out the classification. Thus 3 stands for congresses in the uniform assignment of numbers; so a surgical congress is classified WO 3, a dental congress WU 3, a congress on orthopedics WE 3 and a congress on obstetrics WP 1203. Likewise 32 is for laws relating to a subject; so WY 32 is for laws relating to nursing, QS 132 is for laws relating to dissection, and WA 32 is for laws relating to public health. Table R constitutes a second means of providing uniformity as well as a means of grouping in logical order all items relating to the anatomy, physiology, diseases and thera- peutics of a specific anatomic structure. Thus WG 101 is Anatomy of the cardiovascular system and WG 201 is Anatomy of the heart, the letters representing the system, the first figure representing the specific structure of that system, and the last two digits representing the phase considered. Likewise, WF 602 is Physiology of the lungs, WU 202 is Physiology of the teeth, WI 402 is Physiology of the stomach, etc. In this table the numbers -40 through -59 represent diseases1 of an anatomic structure and their treatment, as follows: -40 Diseases e. g., WG 240 Heart diseases (general) WJ 340 Diseases of the kidney (general) -41 Examination, diagnosis and diagnostic methods e.g. WG 241 Diagnosis of heart disease WJ 341 Examination of the kidney -42 Pathology e.g. WG 242 Pathology of the heart WJ 342 Pathology of the kidney -43 through -49 Manifestations of diseases; conditions of mixed or varied etiology. (These numbers are for individual assignment under respective or- gans or anatomic structures) e.g. WG 243 Cardiac insufficiency; Paroxysmal dyspnea WG 244 Cardiac arrhythmia; auricular fibrillation WG 246 Coronary thrombosis WJ 344 Pyelitis WJ 345 Kidney cyst WJ 346 Nephrosis WJ 347 Nephritis It should be noted that all the conditions noted in these sections are either symptoms of disease or diseases of varied etiology. -50 through -59 Etiologic classification These numbers represent the incorporation into the classification of the etiologic table of the Standard Nomenclature of Disease. -50 Diseases due to prenatal influence -51 Diseases due to lower plant or animal organisms -52 Diseases due to higher plant or animal organisms -53 Diseases due to intoxication -54 Diseases due to trauma or physical agents -55 Diseases secondary to circulatory disturbance -55.5 Diseases due to disturbance of innervation or of psychic control -56 Diseases due to or consisting of static mechanical abnormality due to unknown cause (obstruction, calculus, displacement or gross change _____________________in form) The term 'disease' is here used in its broadest sense, referring to any deviation from the normal or _ from a state of health. -57 Diseases due to disorder of metabolism, growth or nutrition -58 Neoplastic diseases -59 Diseases due to unknown or uncertain cause e.g. WG 251 Bacterial carditis 254 Rupture, wounds of the heart 255 Arteriosclerotic heart disease 255.5 Neurogenic arrhythmia 257 Hyperthyroid heart WJ 351 Glomerulonephritis 355 Nephrosclerosis 356 Kidney stone 358 Neoplasms of the kidney Such a correlation with the Standard Nomenclature of Disease makes it possible for librarians to use this widely accepted classification, devised for the arrangement of hospi- tal records, as a guide to the etiologic grouping of books on the shelves. Actually the dis- ease index of the Standard Nomenclature of Disease by such a correlation becomes a sup- plement to the Index to this classification scheme, providing the only key to the location of a condition not specifically placed in the text of these schedules. Therapeutics is represented in Table R by -66 through -69, as follows: -66 Therapeutics -67 Medical therapy -68 Surgical therapy -69 Other forms of therapy Thus: WG 267 Medical therapy of heart disease 268 Surgery of the heart WI 467 Medical therapy of gastric disorders 468 Surgery of the stomach WE 869 Radium in diseases of the skin WL 169 Physical therapy of nervous disorders The following suggestions are made to enable one to become familiar with the new medical classification: 1. Study carefully the explanation of the classification scheme in the Introduction. 2. Become familiar with the main subject classes. 3. Study Table R, which is used throughout the scheme for the subdivision of material relating to anatomic structures. 4. Study the correlation of the etiologic table of the Standard Nomenclature of Disease with the classification of diseases in the schedules. 4 SUMMARIZED OUTLINE OF THE CLASSIFICATION TABLES QS - QU QS HUMAN ANATOMY, HISTOLOGY AND EMBRYOLOGY. PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY. Human Anatomy 1- -28 General works 124 Comparative anatomy 130- ■32 Dissection Histology 504- ■32 General works • 25 Human Embryology 604- General works 641- ■ 47 Special topics 650 Physiologic embryology 691- -98 Teratology Physical Anthropology 704 General works 742 Prehistoric races 743- • 44 Modern races 746- ■ 48 Origin of man 749 Migration of races 751- •58 Anthropometry 766-970 Dimensions. Proportions. QT PHYSIOLOGY QU BIOCHEMISTRY 1-33 General physiology 34 Biophysics 104-26 Human physiology 1-26 General works 50-97 Chemistry of food substances 100-15 Composition of the organism 120-33 Metabolism 135-41 Enzymes 145-59 Nutrition 160-220 Vitamins and vitamin requirements QV -QW QV PHARMACOLOGY 1-34 General works 38-59 Drug action 60-79 Drugs acting on the skin and mucous membranes 80-93 Depressants of the central nervous system 100-09 Stimulants of the central nervous system 110-17 Agents of local anesthesia 120-39 Drugs acting on the autonomic effector cells 140 Drugs acting on the skeletal muscle 150-59 Drugs acting on the cardiovascular system 160 Diuretics and antidiuretics 170-79 Drugs acting on the reproductive system 180-89 Drugs acting on blood cells and blood forming organs 190-95 Drugs affecting blood coagulation 200-19 Preparations producing immunity 240-49 Antiseptics and disinfectants 250-69 Preparations used in chemotherapy of infectious diseases 270-79 Water and inorganic ions 280 Gases 290 Heavy metals and metalloids 300-19 Drugs of endocrine origin QW BACTERIOLOGY 1-26 General works 51-115 Bacteria: their chemical and physical properties, classification, metabolism, morphology, physiology, variability, etc. 120-55 Systematic bacteriology 200-855 Bacteria of medical importance 900 Viruses 950 Rickettsia 1000-50 Spirochetes 1200-50 Fungi 6 QX - W PARASITOLOGY 1-42 General works 50-179 Protozoa 200-451 Helminths 460-520 Arthropods IMMUNOLOGY 1-26 General works 40-65 Immunity 70-205 Antigens and antibodies 210-27 Infection and the mechanism of infection 230 Virulence and invasiveness 301-93 Anaphylaxis and allergy PATHOLOGY 1-28 General works 30 Comparative pathology 35 Autopsies 40-125 Pathogenesis of disease 140-90 Manifestations of disease 200-460 Neoplastic diseases GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS MATERIAL RELATING TO MEDICINE & PHYSICIANS 1-97 General works 100-275 Medical service plans 303-25 Miscellanies on the profession 330-455 Medicine and physicians in non-medical fields 601-925 Medical and dental jurisprudence 1000-600 Medical history and its source material General works History of medicine, by period Medical biography, collective, individual and by period Medical history and biography, by country Medical bibliography Rare books Manuscripts WA - WB WA PUBLIC HEALTH 1-31 General works 32-492 Public health documents Public health. Preventive medicine 500-658 By country 670-859 Sanitation and sanitary control 900-1148 Control on infectious diseases 1150-89 Accident prevention 1200-95 Health problems of special population groups 1300-410 Industrial hygiene 1425-97 Health administration and organization WB PRACTICE OF MEDICINE 1-100 General works 141-600 General diagnosis, including prognosis Manifestations of disease Physical diagnosis Diagnosis by laboratory methods. Clinical diagnosis 700-1360 General therapeutics, materia medica and pharmacy Materia medica Pharmacy Therapeutics Use of drugs grouped by effect Administration of medicine and other therapeutic procedures, including instruments Dietotherapy C limatothe r apy Physical therapy Music therapy Occupational therapy Special cures and cults Special systems of therapeutics 1500-75 Geography of disease 1600-3040 Medical climatology and meteorology. Relation of air pressure, altitude, climate, moisture, weather, etc. to general health WC - WD WC BODY AS A WHOLE 100-08 General works on the body as a whole. Constitution. 113-39 Personal hygiene Diseases, in general, grouped by etiology 250-90 Diseases due to prenatal influence 351-444 Diseases due to lower plant or animal organism 452-515 Diseases due to higher plant or animal organism 553-680 Diseases due to intoxication Poisons and poisoning 755.5- 800 Diseases due to disturbance of innervation or of psychic control 856 Diseases due to or consisting of static mechanical abnormality 857-939 Diseases due to or associated with disorders of metabolism 958 Neoplastic diseases, in general or generalized 1059-79 Diseases due to unknown or uncertain cause WD REGIONS OF THE BODY 100-269 Head, including cranium 300-469 Neck, thorax, thoracic wall and mediastinum 500-769 Abdomen, abdominal wall, pelvis Other areas of the trunk 800-69 Trunk 900-1169 Back 1200-69 Peritoneum and serous sacs 1300-69 Superficial fossae 1400-2469 Extremities Upper extremity Lower extremity 9 WE - WG WE MUSCULO-SKELETAL SYSTEM. INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM Musculo-skeletal System 1-169 General and combined structures 200-69 Bones 300-69 Joints, including cartilages 400-69 Bursas 500-69 Muscles 600-69 Diaphragm 700-69 Tendons and tendon sheaths. Fascia Integumentary System 800-69 Skin and combined structures 900-59 Glands of the skin 1000-66 Hair 1100-69 Nails 1200-69 Breast WF RESPIRATORY SYSTEM 1—169 General works 500-69 Bronchi and bronchioles 600-69 Lungs 700-69 Pleura WG CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM. HEMIC AND LYMPHATIC SYSTEM Cardiovascular System 1-169 General works 200-69 Heart 300-59 Arteries 400-59 Veins 500-59 Capillaries Hemic and Lymphatic System 600-69 Blood forming organs 700-69 Blood and lymph 800-69 Spleen 900-69 Lymphatic channels 1000-69 Lymph nodes and lymphatic tissue 10 WI - WK WI DIGESTIVE SYSTEM 1—169 General works 200-69 Lips, mouth, tongue and salivary glands 300-69 Esophagus 400-69 Stomach 500-869 Intestines 900-69 Liver and biliary tract 1000-69 Pancreas WJ UROGENITAL SYSTEM 1-169 General works Urinary System (Male and Female) 200-69 General works 300-69 Kidney 400-69 Ureter 500-69 Bladder 600-69 Urethra Genital System (Male) 700-69 General works 800-69 Prostate and seminal vesicles 900-69 Penis 1000-69 Scrotum and Skin of external genitals 1100-69 Spermatic cord and Vas deferens 1200-69 Epididymis 1300-69 Testis and Tunica vaginalis WK ENDOCRINE SYSTEM • 1-169 General works 200-69 Thyroid 300-69 Parathyroid 400-69 Thymus 500-69 Pituitary 600-69 Pineal 700-69 Adrenal 800-69 Insular tissue 900-69 Carotid 11 WL - WN WL NERVOUS SYSTEM 1—169 General works 200-59 Coverings 300-69 Brain 400-69 Spinal cord and nerve roots. Vessels of the spinal cord 500-69 Peripheral nerves 600-69 Vegetative nervous system 700-45 Special senses (with the exception of sight and hearing) WM PSYCHIATRY 1-141 General works 170-90 Neuroses 200-60 Psychoses 266-98 Therapeutics in psychiatry 300-69 Mental deficiencies 400-69 The epilepsies 500-88 Character and behavior disorders Drug addiction 600-30 Military psychiatry WN RADIOLOGY 1-99 General works Roentgenology 100 General works 110-99 Physics of roentgenology. Technique. 200-20 Roentgen rays in diagnosis 250-90 Roentgenotherapy Radium 300 General works 310-25 Physics of radium. Technique. 340-50 Radium therapy Other radioactive elements 400 General works 410-25 Physics of other radioactive elements 440-43 Use in medicine 12 WO SURGERY 1-75 General works 100-49 General surgery 160-91 Surgical procedure and armamentarium 192-98 Minor surgery. Electrosurgery 200-450 Anesthesia General Regional Local 500-40 Operative surgery 600-40 Plastic surgery 650 Emergency surgery 675-724 Traumatic surgery 750-60 Industrial surgery 775-908 Surgery of war and catastrophe 1100-10 Surgery in special medical conditions 1125 Surgery in infants and children 1150 Surgery in old age WP GYNECOLOGY. SEX. REPRODUCTION. OBSTETRICS Gynecology 1-169 General works 200-69 Vulva 300-69 Vagina 400-69 Cervix uteri and uterus 500-69 Oviduct (fallopian tube) 600-69 Ovary 700-69 Pelvic supporting structures 800-40 Bony pelvis (symphysis pubis) Sex 1000-65 General works Human Reproduction 1100-50 General works WP - wv WP GYNECOLOGY. SEX. REPRODUCTION. OBSTETRICS—CONTINUED Obstetrics 1200-759 General works 1280-450 Pregnancy 1500-680 Parturition 1700-59 Puerperium WS PEDIATRICS. ADOLESCENCE Pediatrics 1-28 General works 100-369 Children, their care and diseases 400-69 Infants, their care and diseases Adolescence 501-900 General works WT GERIATRICS 1-400 General works WU ORAL SURGERY AND DENTISTRY 1-169 General works 200-69 Teeth and gums. Jaws 300-77 Operative dentistry 400-69 Orthodontia 500-30 Prosthetic dentistry 550 Pedodontia 600-25 Dentistry in systemic or organic disease WV OTORHTNOLARYNGOLOGY • 1-169 General works The deaf (social and economic aspects) 200-559 Ear 600-69 Nose and accessory sinuses 700-69 Throat (pharynx) 800-69 Tonsils and adenoids 900-69 Larynx, epiglottis, vocal cords 1000-69 Trachea 1100-11 Intracranial complications of diseases of the ear, nose and throat 14 WW OPHTHALMOLOGY 1-179 General works 40-79 Blindness and the blind (social and economics aspects) 200-51 Eyeball 300-59 Cornea and sclera 400-59 Uvea 500-59 Crystalline lens 600-59 Vitreous 700-59 Retina and optic nerve 760-64 Glaucoma and hypertonia 770-80 Refraction and errors of refraction 785 Aniseikonia 790-96 Spectacles 798 Artificial eyes 800-59 Neuromuscular mechanism for binocular vision 900-69 Orbit 1000-69 Eyelids 1100-59 Lacrimal tract 1200-59 Conjunctiva WX HOSPITALS 1-100 General works 140-47 Planning and construction 150-81 Administration and organization 200-27 Medical and surgical departments 300-801 Hospitals by country. Hospital reports WY NURSING 1-100 General works 101-45 Specialization in nursing 150-97 Nursing in special fields of medicine •