Founded in 1923 one year after the first anaesthetic journal was published by the International Anaesthesia Research Society the British Journal of Anaesthesia remains the oldest and largest independent journal of anaesthesia. It became the journal of the newly formed College of Anaesthetists in 1990. The College was granted a Royal Charter in 1992. Although there are educational links between the BJA and the College the journal retains editorial independence. The BJA has an impact factor of 2.340 in the latest ISI ratings (published October 1999) making it the 4th most highly cited anaesthesia journal in the world and the most widely read anaesthetic journal in Europe. BJA publishes original articles in all branches of Anaesthesia. Submitted manuscripts are subject to stringent review to ensure that the journal only contains papers of the highest standard.