comment on the authors' reply to 'Tobacco consumption and advertising restrictions: a critique of laugesen and meads 1991'
M. J. Stewart Abbey Management Services
THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD
The difference between an editorial in which someone asserts their opinion about a scientific truth, and a refereed paper in a learned journal, is that the conclusions in the latter should be based on an experiment, or analysis, which can be replicated by other scientists. This system is designed to discourage authors from publishing false claims because of the likelihood of their being rapidly refuted; and to ensure that they are refuted,...