Canadian Medical Association Journal Home

Free eCMAJ TOC

Back issues
Supplements
Selected series

eLetters
About this journal
Info for authors

PubMed

eLetters: In wavering defense of pooh analysis
In response to: Pathology in the Hundred Acre Wood: a neurodevelopmental perspective on A.A. Milne

P McConnell
Email: pmcconnell@gateway.net
Affiliation: Grad Student, San Diego
Posted on: December 18, 2000


A small literature review with one other outside source to draw from doesn't make for a very scientific analysis, but this wasn't science. It was humor, nothing more, probably an aside...even asides in many journal articles cite the source for information. Doubtless, many of the responses came from folks with jobs which they themselves dislike.

Having said all the positive, I must conceed that perhaps the level of professionalism in this journal leaves something to be desired-if this is main article. I would expect a medical association to be highly focused on concrete research with real experimental subjects, and the main body of the journal should reflect this focus.

The authors didn't carry any degree weight to their names, perhaps they are using it as an appeal to notice: hey look what I know, let me in your program. This might be a scientifically un-informative article, but quite witty. Invariably, times change: behavioral drugs are keeping eeyors from feeling so badly, and they work better than yoga. Besides, scientists don't necessarilly make money doing such things: it doesn't take a government grant to do a short lit review and diagnose cartoon minds. Be critical, but balanced in the approach.

Thank you,

Patrick

 

 

Copyright 2000 Canadian Medical Association or its licensors