The Journal of Sociologic Medicine 15958 Continuing the Bulletin of the American Academy of Medicine VOLUME XVI 1915 EASTON, PENNA.: 1915 Sociologic Medicine Continuing the Bulletin of the American Academy of Medicine Publisht Bi-monthly by the American Academy of Medicine, Easton, Pa. VOL. XVI. ISSUED FEBRUARY, 1915. No. I THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF MEDICINE is not responsible for the sentiments exprest in any paper or article publisht in the JOURNAL. LEADING ARTICLE. THE EXPANSE OF SOCIOLOGIC MEDICINE. This is the first number under the changed name and it is fitting to make use of the occasion in a brief reconnaissance, that we may the better understand the pretentions of the name. The New Standard Dictionary defines sociology as "the science that treats of the origin and history of society and social phenomena, the progress of civilization, and the laws controlling human intercourse; the philosophical study of society." Ordinarily so clear a concept is furnisht by the use of the word medicine that no attempt to define it in this connection is necessary. It must be stated that sociologic medicine is medicine itself and not a branch of medicine, as, e. g., ophthalmology or physiology. Thus, the ophthalmologist will study the various forms of ametropia for the purpose of correcting the evil; the medical sociologist will make use of the same investigation but to determine its effect upon inefficiency in school life or industrial life; and the problems of food values which interest the physiologist are of equal interest to the medical sociologist as a cause of backwardness in school children. Hence, it cannot be treated as a branch of medicine. It investigates every fase of every problem in medicine to see its effect upon the "social phenomena." Disregarding the historic investigation, any cycle of society be |