searching the chemical literature - ACS Publications

Indexes, Happy and Unhappy Hunting Grounds JULIAN F. SMITH Lenoir Rhyne College, Hickory, N. C.

Indexers devote thought and toil to the effort to place subject matter where searchers are most likely to look for it.

They must avoid the pitfalls

Downloaded by UNIV OF LEEDS on December 3, 2016 | http://pubs.acs.org Publication Date: January 1, 1961 | doi: 10.1021/ba-1961-0030.ch002

of omitting significant information, burying infor mation under obscure listings, and making poor choice of nomenclature.

The searcher must bear

in mind connections between English and

Latin

derivations, reason out probable preferred loca tions for entries not as precise as chemical names, check specific as well as general terms, and take into consideration peculiarities that creep into the English language from foreign language sources. Successful searching demands a balanced blend of training, experience, and common sense.

| ndexers devote m u c h thought and toil to the task of placing subject matter where searchers are most likely to seek it. In a sense, each indexer projects his m i n d into the future, hoping that searchers w i l l project their minds back to meet his. Often, but not always, they do. The whole operation is essentially a guessing game of indexers and searchers, playing on the same team against the invisible gremlins of error, mischance, mishap, and false trails. The minds w i n when the searcher arrives at the wanted informa tion. Suppose the indexer is directing the searcher to a new, precise determination of "Stannous chloride solutions, density." H e makes that entry and moves on to the next item. The gremlins w i n if the searcher gives u p when he finds nothing under " T i n chloride solutions, density." There are many ways i n w h i c h indexers and searchers can make success easier and surer than it w o u l d be without their skill and care. Assuming that the indexer has avoided the pitfalls of omitting significant information, of burying it under his own obscure fantasies, and of errors or poor choices i n nomenclature, what must the searcher do to make sure that his m i n d meets the indexer's? First, he can bear i n m i n d such little matters as the connection between " t i n " and "stann-," " i r o n " and "ferr-," " l e a d " and " p l u m b - . " Secondly, he can reason out probable preferred locations for entries not as precise as chemical names. H e can remember that " G l a z e s " and "Enamels, vitre16 SEARCHING THE CHEMICAL LITERATURE Advances in Chemistry; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1961.


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ous" are sufficiently similar to justify searching both when interested i n either, whereas organic baking finishes such as "Enamels, tung oil", may hide under some such congener as "Paints, tung o i l , " but not under "Glazes." T h i r d l y , he can cultivate mental agility when his first thought misses the i n dexers i n such matters as designating properties or products. H e can search "Bactericides" as well as "Germicides," and he can switch from specific to general terms, or vice versa. If "Luminescence" does not serve, he can proceed to its special cases such as "Chemiluminescence," "Fluorescence," "Iridescence," or "Phosphorescence." Finally, he can allow for peculiarities w h i c h creep into English language i n dexes from foreign language sources. Biochemists should know that the German way of calling enzymes "ferments" sometimes is carried over into our literature and indexes. Still worse is Verseifung, applied i n German to a l l hydrolysis, so that "Saponification" for " H y d r o l y s i s " seems impossible to eradicate from our literature and indexes. These are merely examples to illustrate how the searcher can do his share toward the meeting of the minds. Engineers tunneling from opposite sides of a mountain or stream are expected to meet without deviating so much as an inch; but their success does not come b y haphazard drilling. So the searcher, starting from his end, cannot expect to meet the indexers m i n d without skilled attention to orientation. Chemical Indexing as It Was E a r l y chemical indexes were sorry specimens as compared w i t h today's best. The preface to the cumulative index of Volumes 1 to 100 (1832-56) of Liebig's Annalen der Chemie complained that the first two collective indexes (for Volumes 1 to 40, 1842, and Volumes 41 to 70, 1851) were appallingly bad. A few simple rules for better chemical indexing were prescribed and followed. The Annalen s first indexers should not be blamed too m u c h ; they were ama teurs, without experience or precedent, a n d the small bulk of literature to be covered d i d not need an elaborate index. Chemists of 1832 could probably read that years whole output of chemical literature i n less time than w e w o u l d need now to read one annual index of Chemical Abstracts. The Annalen for 1832 ( V o l umes 1 to 4) was indexed b y the use of less than 800 subject headings. T h e leisurely pioneers used long phrases instead of one or a few words as main entries. E a r l y searchers accepted "Nitro-bromo-phenesic a n d ampelic acids, on chlorophenyle, and chloralbine and on the relations w h i c h exist between the com position of some organic substances a n d their crystalline forms" [Chemist (Lon don), V o l . 1 (1841)] whereas modern searchers w o u l d resent anything longer than "Nitrobromophenesic acid, crystalline f o r m , " and w o u l d demand separate entries for the other compounds. E v e n after more and shorter entries w o n favor, subject indexes remained scanty as judged b y modern standards. Cross references were rare and sometimes loosely used, as i n Chemist (London), V o l . 1 (1841), " M e t a l l i c salts," see "Remarks." Indexers seemed to assume that searchers had minds grooved exactly like their own. E a r l y chemical indexing d i d not approach the 67 words of index per 100 words of text w h i c h is approximately the present level for Chemical Abstracts. But grad ually indexers sensed more of the searchers needs; as chemical literature grew i n bulk and complexity, subject indexes made halting but persistent efforts to keep SEARCHING THE CHEMICAL LITERATURE Advances in Chemistry; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1961.


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ADVANCES IN CHEMISTRY

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pace. One of the early concessions, dating back at least to 1801 ( 3 ) , was the publication of collective indexes ( 9 ) , covering 5 to 100 volumes or years of a periodical. This time-saving practice spread widely later i n the 19th century. The growth of chemical literature also drove indexers beyond the w o r d base to formula and number bases for indexing. W h e n empirical formulas were recog nized as inherent characteristics of chemical compounds, inevitably some resdess spirit w o u l d think of indexing compounds by formulas. T h e restless spirit was that of M a x M o r i t z Richter; he brought out his first formula index of all k n o w n organic compounds i n 1884. Isomers complicate the situation, but Richter devised a w a y of coping w i t h them w h i c h still serves i n to day's formula indexes: H e numbered isomers, grouped by similarities; Chemical Abstracts names them. Patent grants were burgeoning late i n the 19th century, w i t h an added i m petus from the German chemical industry's complex marvels of coal tar chemistry. Pressure on patent indexing finally l e d abstract periodicals to publish numerical indexes of patents. Wagners Jahresbericht der chemischen Technologie started the custom i n 1889, followed by Zeitschrift fiir angewandte Chemie i n 1890 a n d Jour nal of the Society of Chemical Industry i n 1901. Thus, at the turn of the century, chemical indexing was established on its four main bases: Names (of authors, firms, agencies, laboratories, patentees, assignees, etc.) Subjects Formulas (empirical and ring formulas of compounds, organic and inorganic) Numbers (chiefly of patents) Chemical

Indexing as It Is

A s the number of k n o w n chemical compounds neared the million mark, litera ture about them and less definite substances or products became increasingly dif ficult to index. Chemical Abstracts and Chemisches Zentralblatt responded w i t h improvements i n entry selection and arrangement, and explained their improve ments to searchers (5, 7 ) . T h e German science press of the early 1930's w a r m l y praised the Zentralblatt s new "encyclopedic" system, w h i c h departs further from the strict alphabetic base than does the Chemical Abstracts system. Book indexing is still i n a very spotty state, but has improved somewhat under pressure. BeUstein (4) and like compendia can be w e l l indexed i n relatively small space because their arrangement has self-indexing features. Unfortunately, the ar rangement i n Beilstein is covered b y such elaborate rules that an official guide (14) is needed. There are also shorter guides (10,15). Friedlander (8) was for many years a monumental example of inadequate indexing, falling far short of the needed detail. The numerous handbooks for chemists and engineers illustrate the spotty character of modern book indexing. In general, the chemical handbooks fare better than those i n engineering. In some respects chemical subject matter is more amenable to precise indexing than are engineering topics; but there is a hard core of fact i n the fable that engineers cannot read, and it influences indexing. Searchers who are sensitive to the idiosyncrasies of indexers can q u i c k l y sense goodness or badness i n an index. T h e needed sensitivity c a n be acquired if not inherited. E i t h e r way, the searcher can train himself to step u p his ingenuity voltage w h e n confronted w i t h a b a d index. T o illustrate, a certain index (anonymous here) has many entries under "Acoustics" and "Physics, sound" along w i t h a few under "Supersonics," but not 9

SEARCHING THE CHEMICAL LITERATURE Advances in Chemistry; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1961.


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even a cross reference under " S o u n d " or "Sonic (s)." Searchers detoured at " S o u n d " pass to "Acoustics" without much resistance, b u t the jump from " S o u n d " to "Physics, sound" is more difficult. Skilled searchers start w i t h a list of the significant words relating to any topic complex enough to have a vocabulary. Probably o n the o l d Indians theory, " N o settum trap, no catchum m i n k , " they are called catch words. Because usage varies w i t h place and time, catch words differ i n different indexes and i n different periods of any serial index. This adds a challenging risk of oversight. Suppose the topic is soils, a n d the obvious words such as " a l l u v i u m , " " c l a y , " " h u m u s , " " m u l c h , " "peat," "silt," "turf," etc., are all listed. B u t i n recent literature the w o r d "perma frost" demands attention. So a n e w catch w o r d must be entered. Success i n searching depends m u c h on a sensitive alertness to the words used b y indexers. Numerous published current indexes serve the dual purpose of informing subscribers concerning current developments, a n d aiding searchers i n tracking down past records. Generally these indexes are p u t i n collective form at suitable intervals. T h e y use ingenious tricks of typography a n d arrangement to a i d searchers. Some of the notable examples serve the interests of medicine ( 2 ) , industry ( 1 0 ) , and agriculture (1). B u t no conjuring trick is yet k n o w n w h i c h w i l l make the same publication serve current awareness and permanent reference utility equally well. So Chemical Abstracts Service has started Chemical Titles, a permuted index of key words from all significant titles i n over 550 selected periodi cals in about 20 languages. It is a machine-made index on the Keyword-in-Context ( K W I C ) system (6, 12). B y concentrating o n current awareness, this service takes u p much of the lag incurred b y Chemical Abstracts i n concentrating on permanent reference utility. Its reliance on words as they occur illustrates a major difference between words and subjects as index bases. F o r m u l a indexes remain basically the same, except that the increasing number of known compounds gives them greater utility. Their drawbacks, notably difficulty i n distinguishing between isomers, have caused discontent and drastic ac tion. Codes w h i c h can be written on one line, without any structural ambiguity, are now serving recorders and searchers of chemical information, w i t h promise of broadening utility in the future. Such codes have received attention i n programs of the Division of Chemical Literature. Their prospects of wider application are closely tied i n w i t h their adaptability to storage i n a n d retrieval from mechanized searching systems. Competing codes w h i c h neglect this aspect may expect short shrift. Subject Heading Lists Chemical formula codes, like empirical formula indexes, depart from the alphabetic base. Another type of special indexing a i d w h i c h remains on the alphabetic base is found i n subject heading lists. A f e w enthusiasts see a master subject heading list as the panacea for every i l l our documentation flesh is heir to. Their opposites, also f e w i n number, see a l l woe and no weal. Proponents see the advantages of accepted standard designations, a n d of agreeing on one correct term for a given item to the exclusion of other terms even if equally correct. C l a i m i n g ample flexibility through skilled use of cross refer ences, they are prone to overlook the irresistible force b y w h i c h subject heading lists attract the formalists and ritualists. In fact, many of the proponents are the formalists a n d ritualists of documentation. T h e deadening chill of formalism is as fatal to good indexing of facts as it is to SEARCHING THE CHEMICAL LITERATURE Advances in Chemistry; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1961.


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ADVANCES IN CHEMISTRY SERIES

worship. T h e letter kills; the spirit gives life. D y n a m i c subject heading lists are compiled, maintained, a n d administered w i t h informed skill a n d care as potent instruments for better indexing and potent aids to skilled searchers. Static subject heading lists, compiled and administered under slavish adherence to a frozen set of rules, are road blocks. A n apple of discord among the formalists is the inverted heading. One camp w i l l fight for " A c i d s , fatty," "Esters, keto-," and "Gas, natural." T h e opposite camp w i l l do battle to the last man for " F a t t y acids," " K e t o esters," and " N a t u r a l gas." Ridicule is a favorite weapon, for it is not hard to trap either form i n a reductio ad absurdum such as "Halogenated unsaturated fatty acid amides," or "Unsaturated fatty acid amides halogenated," or "Fatty acid amides halogenated unsaturated," or " A c i d amides halogenated unsaturated fatty," or " A m i d e s halogenated unsatu rated fatty a c i d . " W h i l e battle rages, the emancipated makers a n d users of dynamic subject heading lists concentrate o n grappling w i t h problems instead of w i t h each other. W h e n inversion is indicated, they invert; then, if it becomes contraindicated, they restore the pristine order. Searchers tend to prefer accepting (and perhaps criticizing) the indexing tools prepared for them, not joining the battle. B u t frequently they preserve neutrality at the expense of insight into the mental processes of indexers. This insight is i m portant to a high percentage of successes i n the meeting of the minds. Subject Classifications C o d e d classifications of chemical subjects are indexes on a number or numberand-letter or punch-position base, designed for detailed subject searching. W i t h i n their limits of scope and coverage they can be used for that purpose, unlike bookshelving classifications such as those of M e l v i l D e w e y and the L i b r a r y of Congress. T h e Universal D e c i m a l Classification ( U D C ) is an effort to ride both horses at once. It succeeds w i t h i n a fixed path directed from Brussels, but not i n the struggle to serve academic, industrial, and military needs for bibliographic control. T h o u g h the decimal classification has shifted f r o m positioning books to positioning index cards, it is still a position-designating system w i t h only limited applicability to the infinitely variable demands of subject searching. It has, however, made a conces sion to flexibility in its auxiliary tables, applicable wherever appropriate i n the main tables. This is a major departure from the rigid D e w e y system and is a forerunner of the multiple-base classifications n o w finding a broadening range of applications. The final step i n multiple-base classifications is coordinate indexing, w h i c h amounts to making each indexing term a base of its o w n . T h e idea is o l d ; one of its modern forms is U n i t e r m indexing (13). Advice to Searchers Searchers need not become expert indexers of chemical literature, b u t the better they understand indexers' problems a n d answers, the shorter the path to information needed from an index. Through all the maze of word, formula, number, and punch-position lanes for placing and retrieving information, the searcher must choose his starting point and his path. If he chooses wisely i n a well-indexed area, his search turns u p all perti nent information entered i n the system. If he knows how well the system covers (he field, he has a fair estimate of how near his search comes to totality. T h e searcher must have a m i n d of his own, and use it. E v e r y system has some SEARCHING THE CHEMICAL LITERATURE Advances in Chemistry; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1961.

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advocates who can see merit in other systems, and shortcomings i n their own. B u t others, if he lets down his guard, w i l l persuade h i m that:


Alphabetic sequence is his sole need. T h e alphabet is a worse-than-useless mess. A decimal (or other) classification answers all his prayers. Punched cards w i l l exorcise every problem. Selectors needing no cards are his elixir of life. Successful searching demands a balanced blend of training, experience, and the faculty known as horse sense. Training drills the candidate i n theory and practice. K n o w i n g that coverage is never perfect, he learns to estimate its thoroughness for each source. H e is taught tricks of the trade for tracing the indexer s line of thought, and acquires extensive knowledge of index bases and source materials. H e learns how to adapt them to requirements, and to interpret findings according to the interests prompting the search. Experience teaches h i m more tricks of the trade, broadens his knowledge of sources, sharpens his detective faculties, and increases his skill i n applying the theories and principles learned i n training. Finally, any searcher tempted by easy searching paths, against the promptings of common sense, should ponder the consequences. Wasted effort, delays, missing of existing information, and high costs for small results are among the penalties for violating these rules: Start w i t h exact definitions of coverage i n time, subject matter, and sources. F i n d out where prior searchers stopped (on all three counts), and start there. Slant the whole job to the basic purpose (background, critical review, reading list, anticipation, interference, infringement, state of the art, etc.). Reserve bulldog tenacity for "must" assignments; on all ordinary jobs abandon any line of inquiry when yield value drops below operating cost, and close the project when the results are reasonably adequate. Searchers who team training and experience w i t h applied sense w i l l produce effective results efficiently; no reasonable employer w i l l ask more. Literature

Cited

(1) Agricultural Index, H . W . Wilson Co., New York, 1916-. (2) A m . Med. Assoc., Chicago, Ill., "Quarterly Cumulative Index Medicus" (various tides and sponsors), 1879-. (3) Ann. Chimie, general index to Vols. 1-30 (1801). (4) "Beilsteins Handbuch der organischen Chemie," 4th ed. and supplements, Julius Springer, Berlin, 1918-. (5) Chem. Abstracts, "Naming and Indexing of Chemical Compounds by Chemical Abstracts" Chem. Abstracts 39, 5867-975 (1945); also issued as a separate.

(6) Chemical Titles, No. 1, Introduction (1960).

(7) Chem. Zentr. 96, II, 2581-91 (1925); Generalregister V I I , Part 4A, iii-iv (1932). (8) Friedlander, P., "Fortschritte der Teerfarbenfabrikation," Vols. 1-, 1877-. (9) Haskell, D . C . , "Check List of Cumulative Indexes of Individual Periodicals in the New York Public Library," N . Y. Public Library, 1942. (10) Huntress, E . H., "Brief Introduction to the Use or Beilsteins Handbuch der organ ischen Chemie," 2nd ed., Wiley, New York, 1938. (11) "Industrial Arts Index," J. W . Wilson Co., New York, 1913-. (12) Luhn, H . P., "Keyword-in-Context ( K W I C ) Index for Technical Literature," Advanced Systems Development Division, I B M Corp., Yorktown Heights, N . Y., 1959. (13) Mines, Patricia, "Uniterm System of Coordinate Indexing," in "Advances in Docu mentation and Library Science," Vol. II, pp. 193-208, Interscience Publishers, New York, 1957.


22 (14) (15)

ADVANCES I N CHEMISTRY SERIES Prager, Bernhard, Stern, Dora, Ilberg, Konrad, "System der organischen Verbin dungen, Leitfaden fur die Benutzung von Beilsteins Handbuch der organischen Ghemie," Julius Springer, Berlin, 1929. Richter, Friedrich, Ilberg, Konrad, "Kurze Anleitung zur Orientierung in Beilsteins Handbuch der organischen Chemie," Julius Springer, Berlin, 1936.


BASED on paper presented before the Division of Chemical Literature, Symposium on Searching the Chemical Literature, 117th Meeting, A C S , Detroit, Mich., April 1950. Revised 1960.


searching the chemical literature - ACS Publications

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