cases which might well be called "idiopathic anhedonia" and individuals who appear constitutionally anhedonic. The technique of therapy must be to break the unhealthy habit as quickly as possible and to do this the "psychical reeducation and adjustment are not nearly as effective as drugs and physical therapeutics." "I fail to see that their (the psychoanalysts') claims are warranted by their results." J. WALKER (Boston Psychopathic Hospital) 968. THALHIMER, W., Epidemic (Lethargic) Encephalitis. Cultural and Experimental Studies. Second Communication. Arch. of Neurology and Psychiatry, 1922, 8, 286-298. Many investigators have studied the virus, organism, and the resulting lesions of lethargic encephalitis, and references to some of these studies are represented in this article. "The results of some experimental and cultural studies of epidemic encephalitis were reported in a preliminary communication and were believed to confirm the demonstration by Loewe and Strauss of a minute, filtrable organism as the cause of this disease. Additional material has been studied, and similar results have been obtained and are presented in this report." The findings of Maggiore and Sindoni, in their work on epidemic encephalitis, and of Flexner and Noguchi in theirs on poliomyelitis, have suggested the identity of these two diseases. Subsequent facts, however, militate against this view. The writer has presented the methods and findings of his study, methods of inoculation, cultures obtained both before and after necropsy, and the resulting lesions. "Some of the cultures were carried through 22 generations. Cultures were repeatedly filtered and the minute organism recovered from the filtrate." The article is illustrated with photomicrographs. D. A. MACFARLANE (Boston Psychopathic Hospital) 969. Совв, С., Electromyographic Study of Paralysis Agitans. Arch. of Neurol, and Psychiatry, 1922, 8, 247-264. The apparatus used by the writer was the string galvanometer and a recording camera such as used for cardiographic work. The arrangements of the instruments, methods of application, type of electrodes, etc., are described. The eighteen cases which form the material for the study are presented. The electromyograms are presented and their characteristics discussed. The writer makes the following conclusions. (1) The tremor of paralysis agitans gives a characteristic electromyogram, with large, slow waves at the time of muscular contraction, and smaller, more frequent waves between these tremor contractions. (2) The rate of the tremor of paralysis agitans is remarkably constant, the average being 5.8 per second. Little variation is observed in any one case when reëxamined months later. (3) In children the rate of the tremor may be much more rapid. (4) Scopolamin may stop the tremor, but does not seem to slow the rate when acting less completely. (5) Various muscles in the same person show practically the same rate tremor. D. A. MACFARLANE (Boston Psychopathic Hospital) 970. CRAIG, M., Some Aspects of Education and Training in Relation to Mental Disorder. J. of Ment. Sci., 1922, 68, 209-228. In The margin between the sane and the insane is very narrow. a given individual nothing more than exaggerated and uncontrolled normal characteristics may constitute mental disorder. Hypersensitivity, as a physical sign and as a condition affecting the mental processes, leads to unhealthy emotion, to preoccupation, to false reasoning. It heightens introspection and aggravates all the normal characteristics of the individual. It disturbs the relationship of self to surroundings and with this failure of adaptation a sense of inferiority or of irritation may result. Nature may rebel, in which case a psychical anesthesia results. The causes of hypersensitivity include physical diseases and disorders, defective sleep and the overaction of various mind processes. Laziness is an important symptom to be noticed in children and adults but especially in children. It is a proper mental reaction to a definite debilitated state of mind. The author takes up the importance in education and training of repression, as shown by Freud; emotion, home environment and training, punishment, shyness, fearlessness, and phantasy. He discusses the "introverted" and the "extroverted" child, and says that the goal of all mind training is self-discipline. He stresses emphatically the meaning of true self-discipline. He closes by stating that there is a great difference in innate mental endowment and that phrases like equal opportunities for all" have a fascinating sound to the uncritical mind but if this assumed truth is carried into general practice this kindly attention will bring about the mental downfall of many of those for whom help is intended. R. E. LEAMING (Pennsylvania) 971. GOOD, T. S., The Use of Analysis in Diagnosis. J. of Ment. Sci., 1922, 68, 229-236. The author discusses at some length two cases, one diagnosed as neuresthenia, the other as hysteria. The method of psychoanalysis was employed and by its aid physical conditions were diagnosed which would otherwise have escaped notice altogether or remained partially understood. The key to the solution of the physical mischief lay repressed in the unconscious and in consequence could not be furnished in response to the usual methods of examination. 972. RUTHERFORD, H. R. C., R. E. LEAMING (Pennsylvania) The Nature of the Psychopathic Inheritance. J. of Ment. Sci., 1922, 68, 236-245. For nearly all time it has been recognized that heredity plays a prominent part in mental disease. The modern tendency is to minimize the importance of it as a causative factor. The statistics of a recent study made by the author disclose that heredity figured as a cause in 10 to 20 per cent of the cases. It is practically impossible to gain any real information as to the actual number of cases in which heredity is a causative factor because patients and relatives are so successful in concealing facts. The true inheritance in mental disease is one of instability. Instability is physical in origin and hypothyroidal in nature. The author gives examples of several families to illustrate the effects of treatment along these lines. The main problems in mental disease, the inborn mental defect, the various degenerations and infections, occur in individuals who have suffered from a deficient secretion of the thyroid. R. E. LEAMING (Pennsylvania) 973. LARGUIER DES BANCELS, M. J., L'Abime de Pascal. Arch. de Psychol., 1921, 18, 135-140. From two sources, the letters of L'abbé Boileau and the biography of Marguerite Périer by Faugère, the author presents data concerning the origin and the development of Pascal's phobia of falling from precipices with its allied hallucinations. It is maintained that this celebrated case of phobia was really a case of fear of open places, and that it originated in childhood; but the author seems to feel that the Freudian explanation is inadequate. A parallel is drawn with the case of phobia described by Ernest Jones in the eighth volume of the J. of Abnorm. Psychol. H. R. CROSLAND (Oregon) 974. RIGGS, A. F., Nervousness: Its Cause and Prevention. Ment. Hyg., 1922, 6, 263-287. A simple and reliable statement of the problem, based upon a clearer insight into psychology than is generally revealed by writers on nervousness. There are four outstanding causes of nervousness. First, a temperamental oversensitiveness to one's feelings and emotions and to pleasurable and painful situations. This cause may be detected early in childhood by certain biological symptoms such as blushing or blanching easily, overexcitability of the kidneys and sweat glands, greater than normal dependence upon praise. Secondly, there is a disturbance of balance of instincts and since emotions are the dynamic sources of energy of instincts there is likewise a disturbance of balance of emotions. Thirdly, a difficulty in realizing one's ideals either because they are unformed or fail in adequate expression due to instinctive and temperamental obstacles. Fourth, irregular development such as is found when intellectual development surges far ahead of the physical and moral or the physical ahead of the mental. Ten practical suggestions are offered for the prevention or alleviation of nervousness in adults. R. H. WHEELER (Oregon) 975. CRAWFORD, N. A., Mental Health and the Newspaper. Ment. 976. POTTER, H. W., Personality in the Mental Defective, with a Method for its Evaluation. Ment. Hyg., 1922, 6, 487-497. Here is presented a suggestive scheme, intended only to be a general aid in roughly estimating a patient's traits and adapted for use on feebleminded over seven years of age. The following main classes of traits are divided into subgroups: sense of responsibility, intellectual characteristics, industrial efficiency, amount of nervous and muscular energy, habitual reaction to inferiority, special adaptations such as amiability and sociability, socially unfavorable and antisocial traits, prevailing moods, traits of interest, etc., favoring specialized educational efforts, unique and pathological traits. R. H. WHEELER (Oregon) 10. INDIVIDUAL, RACIAL AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY 977. BARNES, H. E., The Progress of American Penology as Exemplified by the Experience of the State of Pennsylvania, 1830-1920. J. of Crim. Law and Crim., 1922, 13, 170-227. The writer presents an historical account of the chief advances in penological concepts and practices with special reference to the state of Pennsylvania. The material is divided into eight sections: (1) The commutation of sentence for good behavior; (2) the indeterminate sentence operated in conjunction with a parole system; (3) the differentiation, separation and progressive classification of prisoners in accordance with a study of their personal history prior to commitment and their behavior in confinement; (4) the differentiation of the defective from the delinquent class and a proper specialization in the treatment of the latter; (5) careful psychological observation and analysis of the delinquent population; (6) sterilization or permanent segregation of habitual criminals; (7) the religious, moral, academic, vocational and social education of convicts; and (8) the introduction of preventive methods, such as probation, designed to avoid when possible the necessity of the expense and humiliation of imprisonment. J. WALKER (Boston Psychopathic Hospital) 978. LIND, J. E., The Cross-Examination of the Alienist. J. of Crim. Law and Crim., 1922, 13, 228-234. " The writer draws from his experience as an alienist some of the high lights which may be of reminiscent interest to those who have been through the mill and serve as danger signals to those who seek experience of this sort under the impression that alienists receive big fees for a little pleasant work." The instances where and the methods by which testimony may be distorted and vitiated by the cross-examiner are of interest and of value to any one who with or without consent may be called upon to give such testimony. J. WALKER (Boston Psychopathic Hospital) 979. ALEXANDER, J. P., The Philosophy of Punishment. J. of Crim. Law and Crim., 1922, 13, 235-250. The writer discusses the evolution of theories of punishment for crime, involving motives of vengeance, retaliation, retribution or compensation, and of deterrence against repetition by the criminal or imitation by others. He points out that the modern trend must be |