Front cover: Standard Meridian Points of Acupuncture, Foreign Languages Press, Beijing Editorials    Out There BMA working abroad seminars will take place as follows: Newcastle on 27 October, contact the BMA Newcastle Office, tel: 0191 261 7131; and London on 12 November, contact the BMA South Thames Office, tel: 0181 660 5558. Smoking survey: The tobacco control resource centre at BMA House is conducting a survey of smoking prevalence amongst physicians from 51 European regions. More than 8, 500 BMA members have received questionnaires (75% of whom have responded), and a postal survey of 5, 000 student BMA members is due to start in November. If you are among the sample selected, please complete the short questionnaire and return it promptly. TALC - Teaching Aids at Low Cost: TALC is a non-profit organisation supplying teaching aids and books to raise standards of health care worldwide. In order to keep postal costs low, TALC are asking students who are going abroad for electives or visits to take some text books from TALC with them. Many of the books cannot be found in the high street bookshops, and all are half the price of retail. TALC are in the Library/Resource centre in the Institute of Child Health, +44 (0) 171 242 9789 x2424, 30 Guilford Street, London. Ring them with details of what you want before you visit on 10am-4pm, Mon-Fri. Alternatively, write or ring for a catalogue - TALC, PO Box 49, St Albans, Herts AL1 5TX, tel: +44 (0) 1 727 853869 Women in Medicine: A revised careers book, entitled 'Planning and pitfalls', produced by Women in Medicine, provides essential information on the structure of the medical profession, how to train to become a doctor, jobs available in the NHS, and how to plan a medical career. 10, 000 copies are available free of charge from the Department of Health, PO Box 410, Wetherby, LS23 7LN, ƒfax: 01937 845381.

Student BMJ October 1998 volume 6 Editorials Antimicrobial resistance: bacteria on the defence From public health to the health of the public Cholesterol: how low is low enough? News and student politics Many junior doctors misuse drugs and drink excessively International medical degree launched in Israel In brief Buteyko may make you breathe better BMA calls for 10% pay increase Breast cancer genes and the pill reduce cancer risk Trials sponsored by drug companies: review ordered Operating the smokescreen Education Managing back pain with manipulation and acupuncture Model patient, model tutor Jaundice for beginners (1) Picture Quiz Kabul diary Coping with loss: Blindness and loss of other sensory and cognitive functions ABC of allergies: Asthma and allergy Papers Psychological morbidity and job satisfaction in hospital consultants and junior house officers: multicentre, cross sectional survey Serial ECGs were more sensitive than an initial ECG for diagnosing chest pain Review: Limited asthma education reduces the number of visits to emergency departments but does not improve patient outcomes Life Planning your elective -Vanuatu Community care: Lessons from the South Pacific The not-so-secret diary of a medical student Student soapbox: Ban boxing? Behave! Net.Philes Letters Beyond dropout and towards a medical identity Doctors are there to educate and empower people Legalising drugs is irresponsible and selfish Soundings Paws for thought Scheduled bliss - forever? Reviews Medical Mishaps Reviews Essential books:A medical insight into Frankenstein Best books: Medical Pharmacology at a Glance Essential Cell Biology - An Introduction to the Molecular Biology of the Cell Physiology Clinical Anatomy - A Revision and Applied Anatomy for Medical Students Minerva Editors choice There has recently been a resurgence of interest in complimentary therapies by the medical profession. Our education section kicks off with George Lewith, who reviews research suggesting that back pain may be dealt with effectively with manipulation, and acupuncture, rather than analgesia and rest. (Look out for a report on 'integrated practice' next month.) Recent news has also been concerned with the homeless - parts of London now has increased surveillance to remove the homeless from tourist areas. Following our popular elective series, Helen Murphy compares and contrasts two island communities in the way they cope with mental illness and homelessness - Vanuatu, in the Pacific, and Britain. Village community life on Vanuatu protects all, and compared with Britain, the conclusions are disturbing. Kamran Abbasi describes his experience with Child Advocacy International, as he helps set up a new paediatric intensive care ward in war torn Kabul, Afghanistan, and hopes that the work done will at least benefit a few sick children, as the political power struggle rages around them. How are medical students likely to learn in the future? Claire Svoboda asks whether it's time to say gooodbye to real patients, as we increasingly use models for clinical skills training. And our soapbox this month is particularly provocative. Hands up those who think boxing should be banned; but don't lose your guard to David Hayward, who presents his case. Our review section previews a book on medical mishaps. Richard Smith describes some near disasters during his time as a junior doctor, and Lucian Leape explains why errors occur, and how, in order to overcome them, the medical system should be changed, not the doctor. Alex Brooks reports on the recent news that many junior doctors misuse drugs and alcohol. How shocked are you by that? Write and tell us - usual address.