Developing Your Topic
17
Nonlegal Sources
Ever since a lawyer (and future Supreme Court justice) named Louis Brandeis submitted what came to be known as
a “Brandeis brief,” social and economic data have had a place in legal scholarship. Issues involving science and
technology, such as DNA evidence in criminal trials and copyrights in computer software, have made scientific
information important also. The table below lists a few of the databases on Westlaw that contain this type of
nonlegal information. See the Westlaw Directory for a complete listing.
Database Identifier
Demography DEMOGRAPHY
Selected articles from Demography, a quarterly journal published by the Population Association of
America covering scientific literature in population studies that are of interest to demographers,
including the social sciences, geography, history, biology, business statistics, epidemiology, and public
health. Coverage begins with February 2000.
Drug Information Fulltext DRUGINFO
Database corresponding to two print publications: AHFS Drug Information and Handbook on
Injectable Drugs. May be searched for information on the stability, chemistry, and pharmacokinetics
of drugs, as well as their action, usage, dosage, and administration.
Economic Literature Index ECONLIT
An index of journal articles and book reviews from economic journals and monographs. Coverage
begins with 1969.
Ei Compendex COMPENDEX
Online version of the Engineering Index, which provides abstracted information from the world’s
significant engineering and technological literature. The Ei Compendex database provides worldwide
coverage of journals and selected government reports and books. Subjects covered include civil,
energy, environmental, geological, and biological engineering; electrical, electronics, and control
engineering; chemical, mining, metals, and fuel engineering; mechanical, automotive, nuclear, and
aerospace engineering; and computers, robotics, and industrial robots. Coverage begins with 1970.
COMPENDEX-C contains documents from the most recent 12 to 24 months.
MEDLINE 1966 to Present MEDLINE
A major source of biomedical literature produced by the U.S. National Library of Medicine that
corresponds to three print indexes: Index Medicus, Index to Dental Literature, and International
Nursing Index. Additional materials not published in Index Medicus are included in MEDLINE in
the areas of communication disorders and population and reproductive biology. Coverage begins
with 1966.
ToxFile TOXFILE
Journal citations and citations to sources published by government departments and international
organizations derived from MEDLINE that cover toxicological, pharmacological, biochemical, and
physiological effects of drugs and other chemicals, including adverse drug reactions, chemically
induced diseases, carcinogenesis, teratogenesis, environmental pollution, waste disposal, radiation, and
food contamination. Coverage begins with 1966.