More confused—but better informed

“I am now thoroughly confused but better informed.” This confession by Martin Dawes relates to combating head lice (p 362), but we might consider using it as a measure of success for a medical journal. Confusion may be but a step on the path to understanding.

Dawes's confusion is over a study by Nigel Hill and colleagues that compared the effectiveness of pediculicides with the “Bug Buster” set of combs in removing head lice (p 384). This showed that the combs were more effective but it also showed much lower rates of cure with the pediculicides (13%) than have been …