Literature, Arts, and Medicine Database

Potter, P. & Drotman, D.P., eds.
Another Dimension

Another Dimension is an occasional feature of the journal, Emerging Infectious Diseases, published by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These essays (and occasionally poems or stories) focus on human and philosophical issues related to medical practice, scientific research, and public health. The intention of this feature is to bring a new perspective to the journal’s coverage of medical science and public health. Some of the essays include a painting or other image that draws attention to the subject matter of the essay.

Managing editor, Polyxeni Potter, with the encouragement of Joseph E. McDade, founding editor of the journal, initiated and is guiding this feature (see also the annotation of Potter: Emerging Infectious Diseases cover art). Since this is a government site, its material is freely available on-line.

Another Dimension is a welcome addition to the medical literature. These essays provide interesting discussions that link literature, art, history, philosophy with medical science and public health. Examples include a speculative essay on the "red death" in Edgar Allan Poe’s story, The Masque of the Red Death (Volume 8, No. 12 December 2002); a reprint of poet-author-physician John Stone’s essay, "An Infected Heart,"; (Vol. 7, No. 3, Supplement, June 2001); a lengthy essay linking madness with a variety of infectious agents that may cause erratic behavior in animals and humans--the discussion is initiated with a painting by Van Gogh (Vol. 8, No. 9, Sept. 2002).