3. ------0. So you wanted more review articles- ISI’s new Index to Scientific Reviews (ZSR) will help you find them. Essays of an information scientist. : IS1 Press, 1977. Vol. 2. p. 170-l. (Reprinted from: Current Contents (44):5-6, 30 October 1974.) 4. ------. Why don’t we have science reviews? Essays of an information scientist. Philadelphia: IS1 Press, 1977. Vol. 2. p. 175-6. (Reprinted from: Current Contents (46):5-6, 13 November 1974.) 5...... --1.1..I- Proposal for a new profession: scientific reviewer. Essays of an information scientist. Philadelphia: IS1 Press, 1980. Vol. 3. p. 84-7. (Reprinted from: Current Contents (14):5-8, 4 April 1977.) - 6. ..I. -.I-- . . . ..- The NAS James Murray Luck Award for Excellence in Scientific Reviewing: G. Alan Robison receives the first award for his work on cyclic AMP. Essays of an information Philadelphia’s Scientist Extraordinaire scientist. Philadelphia: IS1 Press, 1981. Vol. 4. p. 127-31. (Reprinted from: Current Contents (18):5-g, 30 April 1979.) 7, .I.-.- . . . . . --.- The 1980 NAS James Murray Luck Award for Excellence in Scientific Reviewing: Conyers Herring receives second award for his work in solid-state physics. Number 40 October 4, 1982 Essays of an information scientist. Philadelphia: IS1 Press, 1981. Vol. 4. p. 512-4. (Reprinted from: Current Contents (25):5-7, 23 June 1980.) Earlier this year I invited Current Con- ness. Two years later, he was appren- 8. ..- ...... - . . ..- The 1981 NAS James Murray Luck Award for Excellence in Scientific Reviewing: tents@ (CC@) readers to visit Philadel- ticed to his brother James, a printer. John S. Chipman receives third award for his reviews in economics. Current Contents (18):5-8, 4 May 1981. phia as we celebrate its 300th birthday.1 ‘While learning his new trade, he taught 9...... - ...... - The 1982 NAS fourth J.M. Luck Award for Excellence in Scientific Reviewing goes to Philadelphia offers its residents and himself arithmetic, navigation, gram- Victor McKusick for his mapping of the literature in human genetics. mar, and logic, and read whatever books Current Contents (18):5-g, 3 May 1982. visitors a wide array of scientific attrac- 10. .I- . ..I - . ..I--- ISI’s on-line system makes searching so easy even a scientist can do it: introducing tions. Its universities, museums, librar- he could buy or borrow. Franklin ab- METADEX automatic indexing & ISI/BIOMED SEARCH. ies, foundations, and institutes have sorbed knowledge like a sponge. When Current Contents (4):5-8, 26 January 1981. 11. .._I_...... -.* ZSZ/CompuMath , multidisciplinary coverage of applied and pure mathematics, statistics, made Philadelphia one of the top re- he was 16, he started a series of satirical and computer science, in print and/or online-take your pick! search centers in the world. In fact, Phil- pieces written under the pseudonym Si- Current Contents (10):5-10, 8 March 1982. adelphia ranks among the world’s top lence Dogood. These appeared in his 12. ------• Introducing ZSZ/GeoSciTech and the GeoSciTech Citation Index-the 50 most-active research fronts in 1981 in the earth sciences illustrate the unique retrieval capabilities of our new ten cities in the number of local scien- brother’s newspaper, the New England online and print services. Current Contents (28):5-12, 12 July 1982. tists publishing articles and books.2 Coumnt.3 (p. 21) 13. . ..-.I -- . ..--1. ABCs of cluster mapping. Parts 1 & 2. Most active fields in the life and physical sciences The apprenticeship became uncom- in 1978. Essays of an information scientist. Philadelphia: IS1 Press, 1981. Vol. 4. p. 634-49. Philadelphia owes much of its current (Reprinted from: Current Contents (40):5-12, 6 October 1980 and scientific prestige to an eighteenth-cen- fortable and confining to Franklin’s pre- Current Contents (41):5-12, 13 October 1980.) tury printer who had only two years of cocious mind. He took the first opportu- 14. II- . ..I - ...... - Computer-aided historiography-how IS1 uses cluster tracking to monitor the “vital signs” of science. Current Contents (14):5-15, 5 April 1982. formal education-Benjamin Franklin. nity to escape the remaining four years 15. - . ..-.I. - . . . ..- Introducing ZSZ/ZSTP&B (Index to Scientific & Technical Proceedings & Books)-online Most of us know Franklin as a rebel, of his contract. James persuaded all the access to the conference literature and multi-authored books. statesman, inventor, businessman, phi- printers in Boston not to hire his upstart Current Contents (34):5-g, 24 August 1981. lanthropist, and author. And his famous younger brother. In later years, he kite-flying experiment with lightning is a regretted running out on James, and part of America’s national folklore. But considered it one of his first “errata.“3 this was just one of his many scientific (pa 32) achievements. Now I’d like to briefly But the course of his later life proved describe Franklin’s contributions to that Franklin would make few mistakes science and, equally important, to the in the future. He arrived in Philadelphia international communication of scien- in 1723, a poor and friendless 17-year- tific information. old runaway apprentice. Five years Carl Van Doren gave an entertaining later, he was master of his own printing account of Franklin’s early life in his ex- shop. In 1729, Franklin became publish- haustive biography,3 which won the Pu- er of his own newspaper, the Pennsylva- litzer prize. Franklin was born in Boston nia Gazette. The following year, he was in 1706 to a crowded household. His appointed official printer for Penn- family eventually included 14 brothers, sylvania, and later for Delaware, New sisters, half brothers, and half sisters. Jersey, and Maryland. In 1733, he issued His father, Josiah, took him out of the first volume of his Poor Richard’s school when he was ten years old to Almanac, which contains homespun work in the family’s candle-making busi- wisdom that is still popular today.

702 703 Twenty-five years after he came to tion library in the American colonies, es- municated, die with the discoverers, and to Collinson, dated March 28, 1747, Philadelphia, Franklin retired as a very tablished in 1731. are lost to mankind; it is, to remedy this reveals the exciting effect this donation successful businessman-printer when he The Library Company raised 6: 45 inconvenience for the future, proposed had on him: “For my own part, I never was 42. He could then afford to devote from the membership fees of its first that one society be formed of.. .inge- was before engaged in any study that so ‘his full attention to an enormously suc- subscribers. At the time, London was nious men residing in the several col- totally engrossed my attention and my cessful career in science.3 (p. 123) the publishing center from which the onies, to be called The American Philo- time as this has lately done; for what Franklin laid the foundation for his colonies imported books. The money sophical Society, who are to maintain a with making experiments when I can be scientific career in 1727, when he orga- and a list of books were sent to Peter constant correspondence.“7 (Vol. 2, alone, and repeating them to my friends nized a discussion club called the . Collinson in London, who acted as the p. 229) and acquaintance.. . I have, during some The Junto met regularly at local taverns Library Company’s purchasing agent. Franklin’s clear intention was to es- months past, had little leisure for any to debate various issues. The rules of the Collinson was a Quaker merchant, tablish the first institution through which thing else. “7 (Vol. 2, p. 302) Collinson’s club specified, “Every member.. .should botanist, and fellow of the Royal Society colonial scientists could communicate gift set in motion a series of original ex- produce one or more queries on any of London. He regularly corresponded by correspondence. He planned to issue periments in electricity that won Frank- point of morals, politics, or natural with many “natural philosophers” in the quarterly abstracts of useful correspon- lin international fame and admiration. philosophy, to be discussed by the com- colonies. In the eighteenth century, dence which would be sent without When Franklin began his experiments pany; and once in three months produce “philosophy” was the equivalent term charge through the mail-remember in 1747, European scientists believed and read an essay of his own writing, on for what we now call “science? that Franklin. was postmaster.3 (p. 139) there were two kinds of electrical any subject he pleased. Our debates The first collection of books Collinson But the proposed network of scientific “fluid.” Rubbing glass with silk created were.. .to be conducted in the sincere forwarded to the Library Company in- communications wasn’t limited to the “vitreous” electricity. “Resinous” elec- spirit of inquiry after truth, without cluded works on history, law, econom- colonies. Franklin included the Royal tricity was generated by rubbing resin fondness for dispute, or desire of vic- ics, mathematics, astronomy, govem- Society of London and the Dublin Soci- with wool or fur.3 (p. 156) In a letter to tory? (p. 116) ment, and literature. Collinson also ety on his mailing list. In fact, the Collinson, Franklin formulated a “sin- The Junto soon recognized its need donated Newton’s Principia.3 (p. 105) American Philosophical Society was gle-fluid” theory of electricity. He stated for a library. The members often The Library Company also received do- patterned after the Royal Society.8 (p. 4) that all bodies contain electricity-they brought books from their own small col- nations other than books. These includ- Unfortunately, the members lost en- have no charge because they are in equi- lections for reference in their discussions ed tanned skins, geological specimens, thusiasm after only a few meetings, and librium. When they are charged, elec- and debates. Franklin first suggested fossils, and antique coins, among other the society lapsed in 1745.9 At the time, tricity is not created. Rather, it is “clubbing our books to a common li- things. The library was more than a book American scientists did little original re- separated-the body has either an ex- brary” so that each would have “the ad- depository and reading room-it was a search. Instead, they acted as field- cess of electricity or a deficiency. Frank- vantage of using the books of all the general cultural institution where mem- workers for European scientists, collect- lin defined a new terminology to explain other members, which would be nearly bers could even conduct popular scien- ing specimens of biological species and his theory. Uncharged bodies are “neu- as beneficial as if each owned the tific experiments.5 (p. 6) genera indigenous to the colonies. These tral,” excessively charged bodies are whole .” 4 (p. 130) But this plan proved Franklin was eager to learn what edu- were sent to Collinson, Carl Linnaeus in “positive” or “plus,” and deficiently inadequate after one year because “of cated persons were doing in other Amer- Sweden, and John Gronovius in Holland charged bodies are “negative” or “mi- some inconveniences occurring for want ican colonies. He was appointed post- for analysis and classification. 10Perhaps nus.“lt,t2 Franklin introduced other of due care of...the collection.“4(p. 130) master of Pennsylvania in 1737, a posi- American scientists felt little need to technical terms as well, such as arma- Franklin quickly suggested an altema- tion that enabled him to read news- communicate their findings among ture, battery, condenser, conductor, tive plan-the Library Company of Phil- papers from areas outside of Philadel- themselves. Or, as Franklin suggested, electrician, and electric shock,13 ac- adelphia. Members bought “shares” in phia and Pennsylvania. But it wasn’t un- they may simply have been “very idle cording to I. Bernard Cohen, Harvard the library, just as they might in any til 1743 that Franklin printed a circular gentlemen. “7 (Vol. 2, p. 289) University. Cohen is a well-known business. They also agreed to pay annual entitled A Proposal for Promoting But Franklin had little time available scholar of Franklin’s scientific achieve- dues. In return, they borrowed books Usefur Knowledge among the British to resuscitate the American Philosophi- ments. whenever they wished at no cost. Non- Plantations in America. Franklin wrote cal Society. In 1746, Collinson donated Franklin also was the first to propose members could also read the books, but that, in a country as large as America, to the Library Company a simple glass the conservation of electrical charge. they had to leave a deposit equal to the learned persons “are widely separated, tube with instructions on how to use it. That is, when the electrical equilibrium book’s value if they borrowed it.5 (p. 8) and seldom can see and converse, or be By rubbing it with silk, enough static of a neutral body is disturbed, the plus Thus, the general public of Philadelphia acquainted with each other, so that electricity was generated to give off and minus charges generated are in ex- enjoyed the benefits of the first subscrip- many useful particulars remain uncom- sparks.3 (p. 156 ) Franklin’s return actly equal amounts. Franklin made this

705 ,

Twenty-five years after he came to tion library in the American colonies, es- municated, die with the discoverers, and to Collinson, dated March 28, 1747, Philadelphia, Franklin retired as a very tablished in 1731. are lost to mankind; it is, to remedy this reveals the exciting effect this donation successful businessman-printer when he The Library Company raised $45 inconvenience for the future, proposed had on him: “For my own part, I never was 42. He could then afford to devote from the membership fees of its first that one society be formed of.. .inge- was before engaged in any study that so his full attention to an enormously suc- subscribers. At the time, London was nious men residing in the several col- totally engrossed my attention and my cessful career in science.3 (p. 123) the publishing center from which the onies, to be called The American Philo- time as this has lately done; for what Franklin laid the foundation for his colonies imported books. The money sophical Society, who are to maintain a with making experiments when I can be scientific career in 1727, when he orga- and a list of books were sent to Peter constant correspondence.“7 (Vol. 2, alone, and repeating them to my friends nized a discussion club called the Junto. Collinson in London, who acted as the p. 229) and acquaintance.. .I have, during some The Junto met regularly at local taverns Library Company’s purchasing agent. Franklin’s clear intention was to es- months past, had little leisure for any to debate various issues. The rules of the Collinson was a Quaker merchant, tablish the first institution through which thing else. “7 (Vol. 2, p. 302) Collinson’s club specified, “Every member.. .should botanist, and fellow of the Royal Society colonial scientists could communicate gift set in motion a series of original ex- produce one or more queries on any of London. He regularly corresponded by correspondence. He planned to issue periments in electricity that won Frank- point of morals, politics, or natural with many “natural philosophers” in the quarterly abstracts of useful correspon- lin international fame and admiration. philosophy, to be discussed by the com- colonies. In the eighteenth century, dence which would be sent without When Franklin began his experiments pany; and once in three months produce “philosophy” was the equivalent term charge through the mail-remember in 1747, European scientists believed and read an essay of his own writing, on for what we now call “science.“6 that Franklin was postmaster.3 (p. 139) there were two kinds of electrical any subject he pleased. Our debates The first collection of books Collinson But the proposed network of scientific “fluid.” Rubbing glass with silk created were.. .to be conducted in the sincere forwarded to the Library Company in- communications wasn’t limited to the “vitreous” electricity. “Resinous” elec- spirit of inquiry after truth, without cluded works on history, law, econom- colonies. Franklin included the Royal tricity was generated by rubbing resin fondness for dispute, or desire of vic- ics, mathematics, astronomy, govem- Society of London and the Dublin Soci- with wool or fur.3 (p. 156) In a letter to tory? (p. 116) ment, and literature. Collinson also ety on his mailing list. In fact, the Collinson, Franklin formulated a “sin- The Junto soon recognized its need donated Newton’s Principia.3 (p. 105) American Philosophical Society was gle-fluid” theory of electricity. He stated for a library. The members often The Library Company also received do- patterned after the Royal Society.8 (p. 4) that all bodies contain electricity-they brought books from their own small col- nations other than books. These includ- Unfortunately, the members lost en- have no charge because they are in equi- lections for reference in their discussions ed tanned skins, geological specimens, thusiasm after only a few meetings, and librium. When they are charged, elec- and debates. Franklin first suggested fossils, and antique coins, among other the society lapsed in 1745.9 At the time, tricity is not created. Rather, it is “clubbing our books to a common li- things. The library was more than a book American scientists did little original re- separated-the body has either an ex- brary” so that each would have “the ad- depository and reading room-it was a search. Instead, they acted as field- cess of electricity or a deficiency. Frank- vantage of using the books of all the general cultural institution where mem- workers for European scientists, collect- lin defined a new terminology to explain other members, which would be nearly bers could even conduct popular scien- ing specimens of biological species and his theory. Uncharged bodies are “neu- as beneficial as if each owned the tific experiments.5 (p. 6) genera indigenous to the colonies. These tral,” excessively charged bodies are whole .” 4 (p. 130) But this plan proved Franklin was eager to learn what edu- were sent to Collinson, Carl Linnaeus in “positive” or “plus,” and deficiently inadequate after one year because “of cated persons were doing in other Amer- Sweden, and John Gronovius in Holland charged bodies are “negative” or “mi- some inconveniences occurring for want ican colonies. He was appointed post- for analysis and classification. 10Perhaps nus.“ll,t2 Franklin introduced other of due care of...the collection.“4(p. 130) master of Pennsylvania in 1737, a posi- American scientists felt little need to technical terms as well, such as arma- Franklin quickly suggested an altema- tion that enabled him to read news- communicate their findings among ture, battery, condenser, conductor, tive plan-the Library Company of Phil- papers from areas outside of Philadel- themselves. Or, as Franklin suggested, electrician, and electric shock,13 ac- adelphia. Members bought “shares” in phia and Pennsylvania. But it wasn’t un- they may simply have been “very idle cording to I. Bernard Cohen, Harvard the library, just as they might in any til 1743 that Franklin printed a circular gentlemen. “7 (Vol. 2;~. 289) University. Cohen is a well-known business. They also agreed to pay annual entitled A Proposal for Promoting But Franklin had little time available scholar of Franklin’s scientific achieve- dues. In return, they borrowed books Useful Knowledge among the British to resuscitate the American Philosophi- ments. whenever they wished at no cost. Non- Plantations in America. Franklin wrote cal Society. In 1746, Collinson donated Franklin also was the first to propose members could also read the books, but that, in a country as large as America, to the Library Company a simple glass the conservation of electrical charge. they had to leave a deposit equal to the learned persons “are widely separated, tube with instructions on how to use it. That is, when the electrical equilibrium book’s value if they borrowed it .5 (p. 8) and seldom can see and converse, or be By rubbing it with silk, enough static of a neutral body is disturbed, the plus Thus, the general public of Philadelphia acquainted with each other, so that electricity was generated to give off and minus charges generated are in ex- enjoyed the benefits of the first subscrip- many useful particulars remain uncom- sparks.3 (p. 156) Franklin’s return letter actly equal amounts. Franklin made this

704 705 discovery using the Leyden jar, which of its success in France. Franklin’s fame Franklin’s lightning rod also created a of Philadelphia, he was surprised to hear was introduced in 1746 by Peter van spread through Europe, but he received political controversy involving George that Bostonians viewed the eclipse until Musschenbroek. This device is a simple no news of it in the colonies. Instead, he III, king of England. In 1772, the Royal a cloud cover appeared at eleven electric condenser-a glass jar with its performed his own variation of the ex- Society commissioned Franklin and sev- o’clock-hours later than in Philadel- inside and outside surfaces coated by periment in June 1752, using a smaller eral other scientists to recommend a way phia. Franklin checked newspaper ac- two pieces of metal foil and grounded by rod attached to a kite. After satisfying of protecting gunpowder storehouses counts of the eclipse’s visibility in other a wire.Ql3 himself that lightning was electrical, from lightning. Not surprisingly, they colonies and found the storm’s begin- But Franklin’s most famous discovery Franklin suggested that pointed rods be recommended pointed lightning rods. ning always was reported later the far- was based on his earliest observation of used to protect buildings and ships from As a result, they were erected on British ther northeast the colony.3 (p. 174) electrical phenomena. He noticed in lightning.3 (p. 166) gunpowder magazines, Kew Palace, and Franklin used an insightful analogy to 1747 that sharply pointed objects caused Franklin described his kite experi- other government buildings. But when explain the weather pattern of northeast electrified bodies to lose their charge, ment to Collinson, and his letter was the broke out, storms: “Suppose the air in a chamber at but blunt conductors were not as effec- read at the Royal Society in December George III insisted that the rebel rest, no current through the room till tive. This observation provided Franklin 1752. The society published the account Franklin’s pointed rods be replaced with you make a fire in the chimney. Immedi- with a method for testing what other sci- in its Transactions. The following year, blunted rods, as recommended by Ben- ately the air in the chimney, being rar- entists before him had suspected-that Franklin was awarded the prestigious jamin Wilson, a British electrician. Sir efied by the fire, rises; the air next the lightning was electrical.3 (p. 159) He Copley Medal, the society’s highest John Pringle, president of the Royal chimney flows in to supply its place, proposed erecting a “kind of sentry honor. Franklin also was elected a Society and court physician, disagreed moving toward the chimney; and, in box”7 (Vol. 2, p. 438) on top of a tall member of the Royal Society in 1756. In with the king’s decision-he lost both his consequence, the rest of the air succes- building-a tower or steeple, for exam- 1753, Harvard and Yale Universities rec- posts because of it.3 (p. 430) sively, quite back to the door. Thus to ple. A long and pointed rod sticking out ognized his achievement by awarding Although Franklin attained world- produce our north-east storms I suppose of this box, properly grounded, would Franklin honorary master of arts de- wide notoriety for his electrical experi- some great heat and rarefication of the become electrified by low-passing grees. In 1759, the University of St. An- ments, he made other fundamental con- air in or about the Gulph of Mexico; the clouds. A person standing inside the box drews, Scotland, made Franklin an hon- tributions to science. As early as 1729, air thence rising has its place supplied by could prove that it was electrified by orary doctor of laws. Immanuel Kant, Franklin investigated the relation be- the next more northern, cooler, and drawing sparks off the rod with an insu- the German philosopher, hailed Frank- tween color and heat absorption. He ar- therefore denser and heavier, air; that, lated wire.11 lin as “a new Prometheus who had stolen ranged different colored squares of cloth being in motion, is followed by the next Franklin himself did not perform the fire from heaven.“3 (p. 171) on snow on a sunny day and measured more northern air, etc., etc., in a suc- experiment he designed. He planned to Franklin’s experiments in atmospheric how far each sank. The darkest ones cessive current .” 7 (Vol. 4, p. 17) Thus, use the steeple of Christ Church in Phila- electricity marked the beginning of sci- sank deepest while the lightest ones sank Franklin was the first to observe at- delphia, which was under construction, entific relations between America and little, if at all. He also found that dark mospheric heat convection. 13 but not yet completed. In the meantime, Russia .14 The Saint Petersburg Journal objects conducted heat more efficiently. Franklin also pioneered the diagnosis Franklin wrote five long letters to Collin- expressed admiration and surprise that Like all of Franklin’s experiments, this of lead poisoning. He was interested in son between 1747 and 1750, detailing all any basic scientific advance could be one had a practical application. He sug- the problem as early as 1745, when he his experiments and conclusions. Collin- made in the American colonies. Its gested that soldiers and sailors in equa- published Thomas Cadwalader’s An Es- son had these letters read at the Royal report was typical of the European reac- torial regions wear white uniforms to say on the West Indian Dry Gtipes.16 Society, but they were not published in tion to Franklin’s astounding ingenuity: stay cooler; that white hats be worn to The dry gripes or “bellyache” is a symp- its Transactions. Collinson had the let- “No one would expect new teachings avoid sunstroke; and that the outside tom of lead poisoning. In later corre- ters printed in 1751 as a pamphlet enti- on.. .electric power to come from Amer- walls of rooms used to store fruit be spondence, Franklin recounted cases in tled Experiments and Observations on ica. However, most important discov- painted black to retain heat against which people ingested lead from rain- Electricity, Made at Philadelphia in eries are being made there. In Philadel- nighttime frosts. 15 water collected from leaded roofs, for America.3 (p. 162) phia, in North America, Mr. Benjamin In 1743, Franklin made an important example, or cases in which printers were The pamphlet was translated into Franklin has been so daring as to try to meteorological observation about poisoned by handling lead types.16 He French and published in Paris in 1752. In extract from the atmosphere that terri- storms while trying to observe a lunar believed lead poisoning was the result May of that year, French scientists per- ble fire which so often destroys vast eclipse in Philadelphia. The eclipse was “of a metallic cause only.“3 (p. 423) formed the experiment proposed by areas. “14 G. W. Richmann, a Swedish obscured by a northeast storm at nine Franklin also wrote on several other Franklin, and proved that lightning was physicist, was killed in July 1753 while o’clock that evening. Assuming that the medical topics-inoculation, infant indeed electrical. British scientists also performing Franklin’s lightning rod ex- storm would have passed over Boston mortality, deafness, gout, blood heat, performed the experiment after hearing periments in St. Petersburg.3 (p. 171) hours earlier, since Boston lies northeast infection from corpses, and so on.13 He

706 even constructed the first flexible to realize Franklin’s plan for a colonial made life easier. For example, he de- stands, and is being used today as offices catheter used in American medicine in scientific society. In 1766, they formed signed a rocking chair that fanned the of the Science Policy Foundation. I 1752.3 (p. 179) In 1784, he invented the American Society for Promoting sitter while he or she rocked. Another often speak with the director of the bifocal glasses.3 (p. 637) Useful Knowledge. Several physicians chair converted into a stepladder for ac- foundation, my old friend Maurice In 1751, Franklin wrote Observations who were not invited for membership cess to books on tall library shelves. A Goldsmith. It’s somewhat eerie to know Concerning the Increase of Mankind revived Franklin’s American Philosophi- different device Franklin invented, that he’s calling from what used to be and the Peopling of Countries. Without cal Society in 1767. Two years later, the called the “long arm,” could be used for Franklin’s study. the benefit of census data, Franklin organizations merged to form the Amer- the same purpose. It is still used today, Franklin’s six short years in active guessed that the American colonial pop- ican Philosophical Society, Held at Phil- but mainly in grocery stores instead of li- research earned him an immortal place ulation doubled every 25 years. This adelphia, for Promoting Useful Knowl- braries. Franklin also designed a stove in the history of science. Robert A. Mil- estimate is off by only 3/100 of one per- edge.9 The first volume of the society’s that produced ’ more heat and less likan, who won the Nobel prize for his cent when compared to census data Transactions was published in 1771-it smoke, called the Pennsylvania Fire- work in electricity, considered Franklin from 1790 to 1860.17 In the same essay, is the oldest American scholarly publica- place or .22 And I’ve to be the fifth most-influential scientist Franklin discussed competition between tion. Although Franklin was away in already mentioned the flexible catheter after Copernicus, Galileo, Newton, and species, an issue that found fuller ex- Europe, he was elected president of the and bifocal glasses he invented. Interest- Huygens. He placed Franklin ahead of pression in the writings of Thomas Mal- society in 1769 and remained in that post ingly, Franklin never patented any of his Faraday, Darwin, Pasteur, Gauss, and thus and Charles Darwin decades after until his death in 1790. Franklin served inventions. He believed, “We should be several others .11 How he managed to Franklin.18 He wrote: “There is.. .no the society as a kind of gatekeeper ex- glad of an opportunity to serve others by rank these geniuses without citation bound to the prolific nature of plants or traordinaire. His extensive international an invention of ours, and this we should analysis, I’ll never understand. animals, but what is made by their contacts and correspondence provided do freely and generously.“4 (p. 192) Yet Franklin’s impact is not limited to crowding and interfering with each the society with access to a number of Visitors to Philadelphia can see sever- the past. The institutions he established other’s means of subsistence. Was the prestigious European academies, soci- al of Franklin’s inventions on display at are a very active legacy. The Library face of the earth vacant of other plants, eties, and universities, with which the the Franklin Court Museum. The muse- Company today is a valuable resource it might be gradually sowed and over- American society exchanged publica- um was built under the plot of land for scholars of American history and cul- spread with one kind only.“7 (Vol. 3, tions. where Franklin’s house once stood. Al- ture. , co-founded p. 71) Forty-seven years later, Malthus Franklin was a member of more than though nobody knows what this house by Franklin and Dr. Thomas Bond in cited this passage in his Essay on the 20 academies and societies on both sides looked like, a metal frame was erected 1751, remains an important center of pa- Principles of Population .17 of the Atlantic. His many affiliations in- to show its approximate dimensions. tient care and medical research. The Franklin also was the first to chart the cluded the Royal Society of London, This unique “ghost house” was designed University of Pennsylvania, founded by , a large current of warm Royal Society of Edinburgh, Royal Soci- by the architects Venturi, Rauch and Franklin in 1749 as the Academy of water starting at the Gulf of Mexico, ety of Art, Medical Society of London, Scott Brown, who also designed ISI@‘s Philadelphia, is a leading educational continuing along the US coast toward Society of Antiquaries, and the Literary new headquarters in University City Sci- and research institution. The American the northeast, and extending to the and Philosophical Society of Man- ence Center. Philosophical Society has invaluable col- British Isles. 13~9~20Boston port officials chester. In France, Franklin was a mem- It is astonishing to think that Franklin lections of Frankliniana, North Ameri- complained that mail packets took two ber of L’Academie Royale des Sciences; achieved so much during an active scien- can Indian linguistics and archaeology, weeks longer than merchant ships to ar- L’Academie Royale de Medecine; tific career that spanned only six years. genetics, quantum physics, and early rive in New England from Britain. L‘Academie Nationale des Sciences, des Remember that he began his first electri- American science. In fact, a number of Franklin asked his cousin Timothy Fol- Belles-Lettres et des Arts de Lyon; and cal experiments in 1747 and communi- academies and societies developed out ger, a Nantucket captain, the reason for La Societe Royale de Physique, d’His- cated his last to the of the American Philosophical Soci- this delay. Folger explained that the toire Naturelle et des Arts d’orleans. In Royal Society in 1752. Before 1747, he ety-the College of Physicians and the British captains were slowed down by Italy, the Academies of Turin and Milan was involved in establishing his printing Academy of Natural Sciences, for exam- traveling against the Gulf Stream, which as well as La Reale Accademia di business and improving the quality of life ple .9 local whalers learned to avoid or use to Scienze, Lettere ed Arti di Padova of his fellow Philadelphians. After 1752, Franklin combined the best qualities their advantage. Franklin printed Fol- elected Franklin to membership. In ad- Franklin was busy in England as spokes- of the experimental and theoretical ger’s drawing of the Gulf Stream in 1769 dition, he was affiliated with academies man for colonial interests and in France scientist. He possessed a lively curiosity, or 1770.19 snd societies in Germany, Spain, as procurer of arms and supplies for the pursuing an idea or observation to its Franklin’s increasing international Holland, and Russia.21 American Revolution. Incidentally, dur- logical end. His intellect was clear and stature as an experimental scientist in- Franklin also was a master gadgeteer, ing his years in London, Franklin lived in penetrating, recognizing orderly princi- spired a group of young Philadelphians constructing practical inventions that a house on Craven Street . The house still ples under a jumble of facts. Franklin

708 709 also was resourceful, improving avail- ment. Franklin’s example of the eigh- able methods or inventing others when teenth-century philosopher still serves as none existed. And last but not least, his an ideal to be imitated by twentieth-cen- Current Comments writing style was clear and direct. tury scientists. Franklin’s communications to the Royal * * * * * Society were so concise that they were read in full to the members. Usually, on- My thanks to Alfred Welljams-Dorof Journal Citation Studies. 37. ly summaries were presented, but for his help in the preparation of this Using Citation Analysis to Study the Neuroscience Journals Franklin’s terse letters defied abridg- essay. 01982 ISI

REFERENCES Number 41 October 11, 1982

1. Garfield E. You’re invited to historic Philadelphia for the tercentennial. forming the core of many research fronts Current Contents (l):S-13, 4 January 1982. The growth of neuroscience has been 2. Institute for Scientific Information. Current bibliographic directory of the arts & sciences. phenomenal. Membership in the Society in our existing data basest-3 are pub- 1981 annual. Philadelphia: ISI, 1982. 2 ~01s. for Neuroscience, established in 1969, lished in journals representing a broad 3. Van Doren C. Benjamin Franklin. New York: Viking Press, 1938. 845 p. of disciplines. However, as 4. Labaree L W, Ketcham R L, Boatfield H C & Fineman H H, eds. The autobiography of has already reached 7,600, and the liter- range Benjamin Franklin. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1964. 351 p. ature of this emergent field has grown neuroscience becomes more sharply 5. Wolf E. “At the instance of Benjamin Franklin.” extensively. Advances in neuroscience focused, we can expect that Bradford’s Philadelphia: Library Company of Philadelphia, 1976. 55 p. 6. Conlrlin E G. A brief history of the American Philosophical Society. have been so rapid that it is easy to forget law will apply to the literature of this Amer. Phil. Sot. Year Book 1966:37-63, 1967. how far this field has progressed. field.4 A small number of journals will 7. Smyth A H, ed. The writings of Benjamin Franklin. New York: Macmillan, ~1907. Vols. 2-4. 8. Smith M D. Oak from an acorn. Wilmington, DE: Scholarly Resources, 1976. 291 p. That neuroscience crosses many disci- account for a large percentage of the 9. Bell W J, Jr. The American Philosophical Society and medicine. Bull. Hist. Med. 40: 112-23, 1966. plines is a truism. So when I began work most important papers published. 10. Hindle B. Science and the American Revolution. J. Gen. Educ. 28:223-36, 1976. on a chapter on the neurology literature Although Dominick P. Purpura, Rose 11. MiUikan R A. Benjamin Franklin as a scientist. J. Franklin Inst. 232407-23, 1941. 12. Devons S. Benjamin Franklin as experimental philosopher. Amer. J. Phys. 45: 1148-53, 1977. for the Handbook of Clinical Neurology, F. Kennedy Center for Research in Men- 13. Cohen I B. Franklin, Benjamin. (Gillispie C C, ed.) Dictionary of scientific biography. I and my friend Pierre Vinken, president tal Retardation and Human Develop- New York: Scribner’s Sons, 1972. Vol. 5. p. 129-39. of Elsevier, the publishing company that ment, Albert Einstein College of Medi- 14. Dvoichenko-Markoff E. Benjamin Franklin, the American Philosophical Society, and the Russian Academy of Science. Proc. Amer. Phil. Sot. 91:250-7, 1947. produces the Handbook, concluded that cine, New York, refers to the present era 15. Cohen I B. Franklin’s experiments on heat absorption as a function of color. (Hindle B, ed.) limiting the study to clinical neurology as the “golden age of neuroscience,“5 Early Ametican science. New York: Science History Publications, 1976. p. 16-9. confusion over the precise definition of 16. Ben Franklin on lead poisoning. Sat. Evening Post 252:70-l; 82, 1980. journals would be too restrictive. The 17. Zirkfe C. Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Malthus and the United States Census. (Hindle B, ed.) following paper, which will be published neuroscience is even reflected in, the Early American science. New York: Science History Publications, 1976. p. 38-42. in volume 44 of the Handbook later this name of the institution that provides the 18. Otto R A. Poor Richard’s population biology. Bioscience 29:242-3, 1979. 19. Richardson P L. Benjamin Franklin and Timothy Folger’s first printed chart of the Gulf Stream. year, emerged after considerable debate majority of financial support to neuro- Science 207:643-S, 1980. over which journals should be included. science research. It is indicative that the 20. Schmitt F P. Benjamin Franklin and the Gulph Stream. Oceans 11(3):5-6, 1978. We finally agreed on a list of 89 jour- name of the National Institute of 21. Lingelbach W E. B. Franklin and the scientific societies. J. Franklin Inst. 261:9-31, 1956. 22. Cohen I B. Franklin and Newton. Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society, 1956. p. 29. nals which Vinken identified as most Neurological and Communicative Disor- relevant to the Handbook’s readers. ders and Stroke (NINCDS) still empha- Clearly, this prescription does not ade- sizes “neurology” rather than neurosci- quately reflect the full scope of neurosci- ence. This institute, according to ence, which overlaps with the behavior- William B. Matthews, Jr., NINCDS, pro- al sciences in significant ways. When vides funds for more than 2,ooO research ISI@ finally mounts a neuroscience projects in, or related to, neuroscience.6 online data base for the IS1 Search Net- Since neuroscience’s ’ progress has work, we will have to draw on papers been so rapid in the past three decades, from a number of fields. The need for it would have been interesting and useful multidisciplinary coverage in a neurosci- to have used our data bases to study the ence: data Lbase I is supported by the fact growth of the neuroscience literature in that the milestone neuroscience papers the same manner that we studied the

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