title: Quest for professionalism: a biography of the North American Medical and Surgical Journal (1826-31).
abstract: This is the biography of a deceased medical journal, the North American Medical and Surgical Journal, born in 1826 in Philadelphia. It was a publication of the Philadelphia Chapter of the Kappa Lambda Society. In the prospectus of the North American Medical and Surgical Journal the promoters observed that a well-conducted journal would achieve the object of elevating the medical profession to its legitimate rank which up to that time had been the recipient of low public opinion. The Journal hoped to inculcate 'a higher standard of excellence not merely in the professional or ministrative but also in the ethical relations and duties of physicians'. After several successful and productive years it passed into history in October 1831, the victim of financial difficulty.
authors.affiliation: Philip A Hoover MD Library, Wellspan Health at York Hospital, 1001 South George Street, York, PA 17405, USA. sshultz@wellspan.org
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Shultz
mesh_terms: D013502:General Surgery / Q000266:history*; D049672:History, 19th Century; D006801:Humans; D018156:Journalism, Medical / Q000266:history*; D009656:North America; D010506:Periodicals as Topic / Q000266:history*; D024382:Professional Role / Q000266:history*; D011643:Publishing / Q000266:history*; D012933:Social Identification; D013192:Staff Development / Q000266:history*