MNEMONICS IN EDUCATION

To the Editor:—  I have long been interested in the medical students' method of solving the problem which results from the outrageous burden imposed on his memory, particularly during the first two years of his curriculum. It is widely, though tacitly recognized that the student resorts to the use of mnemonics, often salacious and occasionally humorous, to aid him in retaining the vast number of facts for which he is accountable at time of examination.The readers of this journal will doubtless recall the verse commencing "On old Olympus' tipmost top."It has occurred to me that this mass of literature constitutes a neglected portion of medical folklore, sharing with other folklore the major attribute that it has been passed by word of mouth from one generation to another. An attempt is being made to collect these literary gems, and several precious specimens have been unearthed. It is assumed that