title: Mightier than the scalpel?
abstract: One of the difficulties in editing a journal is the inevitable isolation from day-to-day practice. There are a number of ways an editor can deal with the problem: meeting regularly with the editorial advisers, attending conferences and meetings to keep abreast of progress, problems and gossip are but two. However, one of the most important ways that the editor - and the journal - keep up to the minute is by dialogue with the readers via the letters page.