Citation characteristics of periodical literature in veterinary science.

The usage of periodical literature in veterinary science was measured by means of citation analysis. Eighty-two percent of the citations in the source of this study, Advances in Veterinary Science and Comparative Medicine (1970-1974), were from periodicals, and 70 of the 743 periodical titles cited (9.4%) contributed 66% of the total periodical citations. Periodical literature cited in the source of the study appeared to have a half-life of 6.1 years, and to double its size approximately every 20 years. The aging patterns of the periodical literature seemed to vary with the publishing age of the periodical, i.e., the literature in the periodicals which have been in publication for more than 40 years showed a more gradual aging pattern than did that in the newer periodicals.