Sir

Andrew Birch's pun (Nature 392, 745; 1998 ) on gas and bubble chambers trivializes genocide in much the same spirit as the revisionists who are the subject of the accompanying article. “Revisionism” appears there euphemistically for the support of Nazi political aims and their contemporary offshoots. Birch's belief that gas chambers are now worth a thigh-slapper indicates irresponsible ignorance or disregard of recent history.

I hope something will be done to prevent further cartoons in Nature joking about the other methods of the Holocaust to degrade and destroy its victims, for example beating, shooting, starvation and so on. Reflection by some on the historical role of science, especially in this century, has led to attempts to humanize the relation between science and society. Birch's cartoon does not add to the discussion.