Abstract
Perhaps the cause of our contemporary pessimism is our tendency to view history as a turbulent stream of conflicts – between individuals in economic life, between groups in politics, between creeds in religion, between states in war. This is the more dramatic side of history; it captures the eye of the historian and the interest of the reader. But if we turn from that Mississippi of strife, hot with hate and dark with blood, to look upon the banks of the stream, we find quieter but more inspiring scenes: women rearing children, men building homes, peasants drawing food from the soil, artisans making the conveniences of life, statesmen sometimes organizing peace instead of war, teachers forming savages into citizens, musicians taming our hearts with harmony and rhythm, scientists patiently accumulating knowledge, philosophers groping for truth, saints suggesting the wisdom of love. History has been too often a picture of the bloody stream. The history of civilization is a record of what happened on the banks. – Will Durant [1]
Highlights
"Perhaps the cause of our contemporary pessimism is our tendency to view history as a turbulent stream of conflicts – between individuals in economic life, between groups in politics, between creeds in religion, between states in war
While that is unquestionably true, it is important to keep the role of case reporting in perspective and to take proactive steps to avoid some of its pitfalls
The potential danger of over-reacting and moving to public health policy action based on case reports alone will need to be tempered with the healthy restraint of denominator thinking
Summary
"Perhaps the cause of our contemporary pessimism is our tendency to view history as a turbulent stream of conflicts – between individuals in economic life, between groups in politics, between creeds in religion, between states in war. By launching "Cases Journal", Richard Smith and colleagues will make an important contribution, that of providing an avenue for case reports from patients, doctors, nurses, relatives, anybody. Such a library of case reports is important, and would chronicle "the banks of the stream" in Will Durant's quote.
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