Abstract
The Journal is a benefit of membership of the Royal Society of Medicine and through it we aim to offer Fellows something stimulating or instructive or entertaining each month (preferably all three). It has also won a large readership outside the Society. As with medicine itself, the scope is almost limitless—from the clinical anecdote to the latest synthetic molecule, from health service politics to hermeneutics, from bronze age archaeology to art in hospitals. Our guiding principle is that good specialists read outside their specialty. Solemnity is not compulsory.
For scientific work we offer a brisk review process, and can publish high-priority papers 6–8 weeks after acceptance, correspondence and meeting reports in as little as 3; thus, we attract good papers by offering an efficient service to authors. Our prime responsibility, however, is to the readers. If you are thinking of submitting a paper, please bear in mind that our readers come from the world over, from many specialties and some from none. Whereas in a specialist journal you may be writing for colleagues with shared knowledge (and jargon), in the JRSM you seek to engage wider attention. Do not be too proud to explain complexities; say why your message is important; and be brief. ~!~With these provisos, we welcome your contributions—whether original papers, reviews, opinion pieces, or whatever. If your article stems from a meeting of one of the Society's Sections or Forums, it should be submitted to Professor Tim David, Proceedings Editor, JRSM, Booth Hall Children's Hospital, Blackley, Manchester M9 7AA (Tel: 0161 220 5536; Fax: 0161 795 7542; E-mail: