Howard Dittrick

Abstract

A noted medical historian and museum curator, Canadian American Howard Dittrick was a Cleveland gynecologist who served as Directing Editor of Current Researches in Anesthesia and Analgesia (1940-1954). In the aftermath of World War II, even after Congresses of Anesthetists had resumed, Dittrick and his editorial board allowed their yellow, then tan-covered journal, the so-called "yellow peril," to languish into near irrelevance.

The Editors-in-Chief of Anesthesia & Analgesia Over 100 Years: Creating the Voice of the Global Anesthesiology Community

“…2 Initially pocket-sized, Current Researches in Anesthesia & Analgesia was affectionately called "The Yellow Journal" for its strikingly bright yellow cover. 1,7 The first few issues of the journal highlighted topics still relevant today: the pharmacology of anesthetic drugs, respiratory physiology, general and local anesthetic techniques, principles of pediatric anesthesia, and morbidity and mortality in obstetric anesthesia. 8 Although the second independent publication for anesthesiologists, the British Journal of Anaesthesia, would be founded the very next year, it would be almost 2 decades until other prominent anesthesia journals, most notably Anesthesiology (1940), would appear on the scene.…”

“…The Canadian-born Dr Dittrick was well traveled; spoke fluent French and English; and could read German, Latin, and Greek. 7 Dr Dittrick had gravitated toward physician-editor mentors as early as his medical school days at the University of Toronto. He had then completed his gynecology residency at Lakeside Hospital in Cleveland, followed by additional training in gynecological pathology at The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, where he had attended weekly conferences on the history of medicine.…”

“…During his tenure as Directing Editor of Current Researches in Anesthesia & Analgesia, Dr Dittrick was also appointed as Editor of the CMLA Bulletin and Director of Education at the Cleveland Clinic. 7 Without any experience in anesthesiology, Dr Dittrick was limited in his ability to solicit quality papers for the journal or to write clinically astute editorials. Under his direction or lack thereof, and in the face of Anesthesiology's success and the absence of IARS Congresses during World War II, submissions to Current Researches in Anesthesia & Anesthesia waned.…”

“…Interestingly, in an effort to generate new publications for the journal during the war, the IARS first formalized a research fund for aspiring investigators. 7 At Dr Dittrick's urging at the start of his tenure as Directing Editor, Mrs McMechan changed the color of the journal's cover from its original bright yellow to a muted champagne hue. Dr Dittrick feared that a racist term that had grown out of the ongoing Second Sino-Japanese War-"the yellow peril"-might begin to be used in relation to the journal.…”

“…In spite of Dr Dittrick's efforts, his fears were actualized, as the racist moniker indeed began to be associated with the journal. 7 In spite of lingering challenges to Current Researches' viability after the war, Dr Dittrick did not resign until he was diagnosed with metastatic colon cancer at the age of 76 in 1954. Although the nonanesthesiologist Dr Dittrick may have been a suboptimal choice for lead editor of a major anesthesia journal, he was still appreciated for his good nature and work ethic.…”