The word ‘periodical’ immediately calls to mind huge stacks of bound volumes neatly arranged on library shelves. Yet, in historical terms, it would be hard to claim that ‘periodical’ is a word endowed with a definite and univocal connotation. Even the criterion of ‘periodicity’ leaves a lot out of account. Forms historically assumed by periodicals often envisaged regular schedules of appearance, but this was often more of a wish than a reality. Thus, great care needs to be taken in accepting at face value the dating of issues and volumes. Scientific periodicals, whether purely professional or purely commercial (and the many forms in between), existed in given historical circumstances and had to compete with different and alternative forms of publication which were also issued in instalments (especially dictionaries and encyclopaedias). They were not the only or even the preferred vehicle for a scientist to communicate or engage in debate. The role of the reading public, in science as well as in many other matters, was never one of a passive receiver: during the long nineteenth century, in several countries, readers claimed the right to intervene in scientific debates, and favoured publications that appeared to accommodate their demands.

中文翻译：

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期刊是什么意思？形式与功能

“定期”一词立即使人联想到整齐地排列在图书馆书架上的大量绑定卷。然而，就历史而言，很难断言“周期性”是一个具有明确和明确含义的词。甚至“定期性”的标准也有很多不足之处。期刊历史上采用的形式通常会设想定期的出现时间表，但这通常是希望而非现实。因此，在接受问题和数量的日期时应格外小心。科学期刊，无论是纯专业的还是纯商业的（以及介于两者之间的许多形式），都存在于给定的历史环境中，并且必须与分批发行的其他不同出版形式（特别是字典和百科全书）竞争。它们不是科学家交流或参与辩论的唯一或什至不是首选工具。阅读公众在科学以及许多其他事务中的作用从来都不是被动的接受者：在十九世纪很长的一段时间里，在一些国家，读者声称有权介入科学辩论，并青睐出现的出版物。满足他们的需求。