AHALYTICAL C H E M I S T R Y Walter 1. Murphy, Editor -
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The Publication load Increases ERTAINLY one of the way$ in which we can gage the steady advance in the field of analytical chemistry is to I eview the year-to-year increase in the number of editorial pages published in ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY. Through the Soveinber issue the paginated editorial pages total 1870, while in the same period in 1951, we printed 1724, a n increase of 146 pages. Through the Sovember issue of 1950, the paginated editorial pages amounted to 1462, so that within a period of two years it has been necessary to provide for more than 408 additional pages in order to maintain the journal reasonably close to a current publication basis. One really begins to appreciate the magnitude of the growth in the size of the journal when reference is made to the volume duiing the K o i l d T a r I1 period. The following table indicates convincingly the growth in the publication load of the journal: Tear
Total Pages
Editorial Pages
Editorial
70of Total 79 80 71 71 71 69 72 75 78 78 80 81
Advertising Pages 252 250 328 324 349 383 427 457 450 462 502 502
Advertising, % of Total 21 20 29 29 29 31 28 25 22 22 20 19
cepted. The mnnusciipt editing depai trnent must go over it, the manusciipt must be set in galley form, proofs must be sent to the author, pages must be dummied and, of course, there are a t least several readings of proofs a t the printing office in Easton, Pa. We certainly do not wish to convey the impression that we are completely satisfied with a 90-day current publication basis. We hope that the editoiial staff with the help and cooperation of the authors and the printer will be able t o reduce the period of time between acceptance of the manuscript and its publication. TVe also hope to cut don n on the average period of time between the receipt of the manuscript and its acceptance. However, in achieving these goals me must recognize t h a t adequate time has to be provided for the reviewers. These experts in the field of analysis unselfishly give of their time and knowledge. They receive no compensation other than the value of keeping abreast of the latest developments and the satisfaction of contributing to the advancement of their science and profession. T e are sure that the users of ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY appreciate the value of maintaining high standards by critically reviewing manuscripts before publication and, along with us, favor such a practice even though it requires more time and work.
Our Technical Data Department
It is true, of course, that not all of the increase indicated in the table is due to the publication of greater and greater numbers of papers reporting on original reseirch. K e now publish annual reviem, abstracts of papeis of interest to analysts presented at meetings in all parts of the iyorld, reviews of books of special significance to analysts, and several other special features, allof which require a substantial number of pages. However, the total so used are but a relatively small percentage of the over-all total number of editorial pages printed. \Ye believe these special features perform many worth-while services of direct practical value to analysts, but \ve have never navered in our opinion that the first and foremost puris to print the quality papers pose of ASALYTICAL CHEMISTRY reporting worth-while original research. The journal, generally speaking, is on a c’urrent publieation basis and by current, we mean publication within a period of 90 days from the date of acceptance. This is not strictly true of the material published in the [ T o t e s ” and “Aids” departments but, for the past few months and for the next month or two, we are printing extra pages in these sections in order to reach a more current basis. There is much to be done after a manuscript has been ac-
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S P E A K I K G of special services provided our readers, this would seem to be a n opportune time to mention the technical data department of AL~LYTICAL CHEMISTRY, published each month in the canary-colored four-page section (in this particular issue, pages 31 A-34 A). I n this section. analysts will find a carefully screened listing and description of new equipment, apparatus, instruments, reagents. and materials, together with a selected list of the very latest manufacturers’ literature. It is a very simple matter for you to ciicle on the attached post card items on which you 15 ish additional information. TYe wish to point out that the selection of the information appearing in the technical data department is done by the editors of the journal. More and more manufacturers of supplies, instruments, and equipment are now issuing really informative technical data and information. A great number of announcements, bulletins, brochures, and catalogs reach the editorial offices where they are carefully examined and accurately described for our readers. Analysts will find this information of very practical value and we strongly recommend that subscribers avail themselves of this service.
