This issue is published close to the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the First World War – two papers commemorating the influence of that war on the Royal Army Medical Corps and on medicine in general will stir readers’ interest. Iain Donaldson’s scholarly paper on Peter Lowe and his second piece about Thomas Geminus completes the history section. Pamela Levack’s editorial and the Current Controversy both highlight the need for improvement of, and debate about, end of life care.

Our first issue of 2014 covers topics from the demise of therapeutic bloodletting to the responsible management of drivers who have physical disabilities or show early signs of dementia, affecting their safety on the roads. I wish to draw the attention of all readers, whether old or young, to an editorial from former president, Professor Michael Oliver, illustrating the merits of ‘wondering’. When did you last examine established facts and just ‘wonder’ what might explain them? Has Google searching replaced deep thinking?