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Updated: Jun 23, 2026
05:02
Comparing Bibliometric Analysis Using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science Databases
Published on: October 24, 2019
The great contribution: Index Medicus, Index-Catalogue, and IndexCat
Stephen J Greenberg1, Patricia E Gallagher
1History of Medicine Division, National Library of Medicine, 8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA. greenbes@mail.nih.gov
Summary
The Index-Catalogue, a key medical index, was analyzed against Index Medicus. Findings reveal complex coverage and indexing relationships between these historical medical knowledge resources.
Area of Science:
- Medical Informatics
- Bibliometrics
- History of Medicine
Background:
- The Library of the Surgeon-General's Office created two major indexes: the Index-Catalogue and the Index Medicus.
- Index Medicus is recognized as the forerunner of MEDLINE, while the Index-Catalogue has been historically overlooked.
- The National Library of Medicine's 2004 release of IndexCat, the online Index-Catalogue, prompted new research questions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the coverage and overlap between the Index-Catalogue and Index Medicus.
- To analyze the relationship between these two significant historical medical literature indexes.
Main Methods:
- A random sample of over 1,000 Index Medicus citations were cross-referenced within the IndexCat database.
- Evaluation criteria included inclusion, form, content, authority control, and subject headings.
Main Results:
- The relationship between the Index-Catalogue and Index Medicus was found to be complex and varied over time.
- Analysis revealed anomalies in literature selection and indexing practices within "America's greatest contribution to medical knowledge."
Conclusions:
- The historical indexing practices of the Index-Catalogue and Index Medicus were not uniform.
- Understanding these historical indexes provides insight into the evolution of medical knowledge organization.
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