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Editorial
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From the earliest times, medical texts have been supplemented by illustrations. Whilst sometimes purely decorative, their main purpose is to provide an additional means of conveying meaning. The information content of a medical illustration depends on the skills of the illustrator and the technologies available for producing that image—manuscript, print from various original artefacts suitable for mass reproduction, photography and, now, electronic production. The principles of medical illustration are nowhere more explicit than in images of the nervous system. Little wonder, therefore, that some of the great examples are external and internal configurations of the brain. But since their purpose is to represent, rather than faithfully reproduce each and every feature of the subject matter, the artistic principles of composition, economy of line and contrast may make it necessary to dispense with detail and complexity, and the cartoon, line drawing, and black and white
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