It is gratifying that the Board on Professional Standards and the Executive Council have approved a broadening of the membership base, as reported in the Newsletter of January 1983.

It does seem unfortunate, however, to use such terms as “barbarians” and to speak of “deterioration of standards” created by non-certified analysts. These analysts have been carefully trained according to the American's own standards and, more often than not, are men and women of wisdom and experience. To use such terms as “barbarian” and “deterioration,” even in jest, runs the risk of increasing the acrimony referred to in the article.

Benjamin F. Gill, M.D.

Boston