The Series of Consecutive Cases as a Device for Assessing Outcomes of Intervention

AN air of serving the common good clings to the process of reporting as general information the results of one's own extensive experience. Medicine enjoys a long tradition of such literature, and valuable results have sometimes ensued. Moreover, a large share of medical knowledge has been accumulated in just this way, through the publication of series of cases. The purpose of this paper is to examine the usefulness and limitations of series for assessing the safety and efficacy of medical interventions. Two historical examples initiate the discussion: the first demonstrates results with a new technique; the second compares outcomes between . . .