Introduction to Field T: Fields T-l, T-Z. T-3 

 Columns 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, and 64 



ACTION OF THE TEST COMPOUND 



Organization of Field T 



This field is divided into three areas or sub- fields (Fields T-l, T-2, and T-3) in the same way 

 that the general area for coding the administered dosage is divided into four areas (Fields M, N, O, 

 and P). Fields T-l, T-2, and T-3 are assigned one, four, and three coding columns (i. e. , IBM 

 punched card columns), respectively. 



The three areas are designated as: 



Specific Action (Field T-l) 



Specific Biological State, Quality, or Process Acted on or Caused (Field T-2) 



General Category of Effect; Practical Application (Field T-3) 



General Use of Field T; 



Distinctions between General 



Uses of Fields T-l, T-2, and T-3 



In this area is coded the biological response--in other words, a description of the chemical 

 action on the organism. The first of the three subsidiary coding areas of Field T, Field T-l, is used 

 to describe the exact action and is therefore referred to as the field for coding specific action . The 

 second, Field T-2, is used for coding the specific biological state, quality, or process acted on or 

 caused. Finally, Field T-3 is used to re- state the information coded in Fields T-l and T-2 in terms 

 of a general category of action . 



In describing responses of biological organisms to chemicals- -in other words, actions of test 

 compounds on biological organisms- -it will be noted that the expression of biological response 

 (chemical action) always consists of two components, essentially a verb and an object (considering 

 the test compound as being the subject of the statement of the test result). For each of these two 

 components of the statement of biological response, a separate code area has been established, 

 Field T-2 for the object (i. e. , the state, quality, or process) and Field T-l for the verb (i. e. , the 

 action of causing or affecting the state, quality, or process). Field T-3 supplements Fields T-l 

 and T-2 in that it defines the chemical action in terms of a general category of effect and practical 

 biological application. Examination of items of Fields T-3 and T-2 will help clarify the distinctions. 



Fields T-l and T-2 should be regarded as a coding unit, the entry in each of the two fields 

 being essential to a complete statement of action of the test compound (i. e. , a complete statement 

 of the response of the organism). Field T-3 is then a second coding unit, in which the chemical 

 action (biological response) is re- stated in another, more general way. In programs of coding 

 chemical- biological information which are of a considerably more restricted nature than that of the 

 CBCC, it is conceivable that one of the units, (1) T-l and T-2 or (2) T-3, could be eliminated. 



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