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To the Editor.—
It is unfortunate that Dr Aronberg's letter in the February 1981 Archives (117:63) regarding secretarial acknowledgment is the last of the species. We suspect it was published to support your decision to eliminate this courtesy. We doubt that layout considerations mandate dropping the one line of copy it usually takes to thank the secretary.Professional contributions to articles are properly acknowledged in coauthorship. Laboratory, technical, and photographic assistance evidently will continue to be acknowledged. Is the secretary to be denied the same courtesy because she/he is just doing her/his job?Elimination of this acknowledgment will only contribute to the arrogance of physicians and researchers who forget their work could not continue without the assistance of a great many highly skilled people, not the least of whom is the secretary. Her/his efforts in retyping many drafts, correcting spelling, and even extensively editing a manuscript can play a significant