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Reviews and Notices of Books.PSYCHOLOGY.

The Process of Human Behaviour. By MANDELSHERMAN, M.D., P11.D. ; and IRENE CASE SHERMAN,Ph.D. London: Williams and Norgate. 1930.

Pp. 227. 12s. 6d.THIS volume is frankly experimental and behaviour-

istic. That is to say, its exposition is based upon thethesis that human behaviour is exclusively the productof neural reaction to environment. The authorsgive a general account of nervous mechanisms,starting from the irritability of organisms to thestructure and function of the human brain. Theythen describe in the manner of J. B. Watson the firsthuman responses and also give their careful observa-tions on the emotions of newly born infants. Theyconclude that there is a more or less quantitativerelationship between stimulus and response. Ascan be well understood the thesis leaves little or noroom for mind, and the whole study of personalityand of social behaviour is based without relent uponthe structure and function of the reflex arc and ofthe glands which govern emotivity. On this levelof discussion the book is a good exposition of humanbehaviour, but for those who feel that the subtlerreactions of man need something more than neuralmechanisms for their explanation the thesis of theauthors will not appear quite so satisfactory.

Psychology’s Defence of the Faith. By DAVIDYELLOwLEES, M.D., Ch.B. London: StudentChristian Movement Press. 1930. Pp. 190. 5s.

Tiiis volume consists of series of lectures givenbefore the Student Christian Movement, 1929; theyhave otherwise undergone little modification. Theauthor, while being himself a practitioner of psycho-pathology, is also a man deeply imbued with religiousfeeling and faith. He has felt the need for bringingreligion before the tribunal of psychology and Ipsychology before the throne of religion. He hasattempted to show that while psychology throws aprofound light upon the religious life, it cannot doanything to alter the fundamental truths of religionor to diminish the glory of religious personages whohave inspired mankind throughout the ages. He isdeeply impressed with the views of Freud, but in sofar as this pioneer is a Determinist, he feels himselfmore akin to Jung, whose philosophy allows for thathuman freedom which the religious life needs. Thebook is unfortunately marred by a certain colloquialismin expression which may have been necessary inspeaking to students, but which rings unpleasantlyin the ear when read in a serious volume.

" Just Normal Children." By FLORENCE MATEER,Ph.D., Director of the Merryheart Schools,Columbia, Ohio. London: D. Appleton and Co.1929. Pp. 294.$2-50.THE author has laid out her book on a plan which

has brought out the extraordinary human side ofthis problem-the difficult child. She has describedin a straightforward narrative way the lives of littlechildren, their behaviour, their health, and theirintelligence, stating how each was affected by someparticular maladjustment, physical, psychological,or both. She tells how the subject of each disorderwas studied empirically over a period of time, andhow each disorder was corrected. The chapter endswith a series of questions arising out of the case, eachquestion being answered with the wisdom derivedfrom knowledge, common sense, and sympathy.The whole field of child guidance is explored, and theauthor has tried hard to make her observations andtreatment clear to the non-technical reader. Shedoes, however, give such ready answers to the questionswhich she herself has set that the book may give afalse impression to the reader as to the ease with

which a maladjusted child is brought back tonormality. The book may not satisfy all readers,but the value of the questions which are liberallysown throughout the book and of the case-historiesis beyond dispute.

MANUAL OF PHYSICS.Third edition. By J. A. CROWTHER, Sc.D.,F.Inst.P. London: Humphrey Milford, OxfordUniversity Press. 1930. Pp. 562. 14s.As some seven or eight impressions of this manual

have appeared its value cannot be called in question.The standard of the book is that of the numerousexaminations which are coordinated by the Board ofEducation under the title School Certificate Examina-tions, including the revised Senior Local Examinations.The object has been to bring the principles of physicsclearly before students, as the author’s experience hasshown him that a certain assimilation of facts is oftennot combined with a corresponding general apprecia-tion of the subjects under study. The space devotedto mechanics remains, as in the original issue of thebook, predominant, and all who have had any personalknowledge of the difficulties of students will agree thata full explanation of the properties of matter makesall instruction along further and more special linesmuch easier. The additions to the latest issue of thebook will be found mainly in this section and underthe heading of electricity.

IMMUNITY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES.

By A. BESREDKA, Professor at the PasteurInstitute, Paris. Authorised translation byHERBERT CHILD, M.R.C.S., L.S.A., late Hon.Surgeon, French Red Cross ; Capt. R.A.M.C. (T.Y.).London: Bailliere, Tindall and Cox. 1930.Pp. vi. +320. 18s.

THIS is a series of 15 essays upon different aspects ofimmunity which Prof. Besredka has especiallyinvestigated during the past 30 years. They includea number of subjects, such as the bactericidal powerof leucocytes, the bacterial haemolysins, the problemof the unity or diversity of the streptococci, &c. ;but except for the first few chapters the generaltheme running through the book is the problem ofthe active immunisation of the individual, withespecial reference to local immunity and local tissuevaccination. Briefly, the views of the author,which are now well known, consist in a disbelief inthe importance of humoral antibodies, either as

factors in or indices of the immune state, and abelief in the supreme importance of especially sensitivetissues, which by local treatment may be renderedimmune, and thereby convey a general immunity.On the whole these essays are unconvincing. Manyof them are only of historical interest, and it is difficultto know why they should be published to-day. Wecannot believe that the distinguished author stillholds that " the streptococcus met with in scarletfever is not the specific agent-that to-day appearsbeyond a doubt." In many other respects the bookis unsatisfactory. The reader who expects to find areasoned, documented, and scientific exposition ofBesredka’s views will be grievously disappointed,and will gain the impression that the basis of hisrecent work is unsound and uncritical. Hardlyany notice is taken of experiments or findings whichare opposed to the author’s views ; practically every-thing quoted goes to substantiate them. The workof the translator does not add to the attractions ofthe book. His method of approach is so literal thatFrench constructions appear on almost every page.Whilst a translator is bound to render faithfullythe sense and meaning of the original, he is notdebarred from the idioms of the language he isemploying.

" The bodies of the bacilli emulsified in the physiologicalsalt solution are placed in a cylindrical test glass, containingnon-heated anti-plague serum, very agglutinant."......" It was Theobald Smith who had this idea. In preparing

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it he did not suspect, at the outset, that he was doing any-thing but realising a true sensitised vaccine."

These examples will illustrate the use of inappropriateEnglish words which occurs on almost every page.Moreover, although " diastase " is loosely used inFrance for the whole body of ferments and enzymes,it is incorrect to translate the word literally whenspeaking of a hsemolysin. Another word whichalso has a much more narrow meaning in Englishthan in French is " virus," and yet we find it employedas synonymous with bacteria. On page 202 we findthe expression " the stock or auto-vaccine."The past work of the author has given him a

deserved reputation in all countries, and manylaboratory and clinical workers are anxious toevaluate his new and interesting theories. It istherefore unfortunate that this book will not givemuch help to those who are prepared to considernew ideas without bias.

ANIMISM, MAGIC AND THE DIVINE KING.

By GÉZA B6HBIM, Ph.D. London : Kegan Paul,Trench, Trubner, and Co., Ltd. 1930. Pp. 390.218.THIS is an addition to the now extensive literature

of anthropology. The subject is dealt with under suchgeneral sections as animism and the psychology ofmagic, the medicine-man and the art of healing, thedivinity of the king as successor to the medicine-man,and the sacrifice of the king as scapegoat for the sinsof the people. The collection of native legions whichthe author has got together is remarkable alike for thewidth of its references and the repulsiveness of theepisodes and examples set down. The section entitledthe medicine-man relies for its facts largely upon therecorded habits of primeval races, but it is difficult tosee how far these notes on savage life and scenes, evenwhen recorded with some intention of consecutiveness,will be of any value to modern medicine. Seriouspsychological study, which is now so definitelyassociated with the study of medicine, is not likely tobe advanced by any teaching conveyed by the book,although the habits and customs set down confirmmuch common knowledge as to the development ofcivilisation. The design has been to apply the modernprinciples of psycho-analytical research to explain theworkings of the primitive mind.

ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHY.Principles and Practice of Electrocardiography.By CARL J. WIGGERS, M.D., Professor of Physio-logy, Western Reserve University, Cleveland.London: Henry Kimpton. 1929. Pp. 226.30s. 6d.THE advent of electrocardiography as a method

of examination, the value of which has now receivedgeneral recognition, sufficiently accounts for thelarge number of text-books devoted to the subject.A few of these are highly technical. The vast majority,however, are written for the practitioner. Indeed,as Prof. Wiggers expresses it in his preface,they are often content merely to give " arbitraryrules for turning knobs and closing switches .....with empirical directions for interpreting the records ’,obtained." It is refreshing to find a book in whichthe author has struck out on a new line. As aphysiologist with a leaning towards the physicalside, Prof. Wiggers is able to speak with authorityon the instrumental aspect of the subject. Hisbook is primarily intended to give the medical practi-tioner a fuller understanding of the physical principlesinvolved. The first hundred pages are devoted togeneral principles, and a full description is given ofthe various types of galvanometers in general use.It is perhaps unfortunate that the writer contentshimself with describing these various instruments,and does not express any opinion on their relativemerits and defects, but nevertheless this section

gives all the information which a cardiologist is likelyto require on the technical side. The remainder ofthe book is devoted to a systematic consideration ofnormal and abnormal records. Typical examplesare given of the various abnormal types of electro-cardiogram commonly met with in practice; theanalysis of the records is explained, the physiologicaland clinical significance of the disorders is discussed,and treatment is considered.

This book, written by a physiologist for clinicians,could with advantage have been published as twoseparate volumes. The presentation of the physicalaspect is admirable, and without being too technicalgives a very complete account of the subject. Itwill appeal essentially to the cardiologist who isinterested in the scientific side of his work. Theclinical section, however; is rather too elementaryfor him. It would serve well as an introduction toelectrocardiography for the general physician or forthe physiologist who is less familiar with clinicalproblems. The illustrations are excellent, and thegeneral get-up of the book leaves nothing to be desired.

JOURNALS.BRITISH JOURNAL OF CHILDREN’S DISEASES.

Vol. XXVII. January-March, 1930.-Dr. Fergus R.Ferguson and Dr. Macdonald Critchley contribute aClinical Study of Congenital Neurosyphilis, Part II.,in which they record their observations on 36 cases,eight of which were congenital tabes, 12 congenitaltabo-paresis, and 15 congenital general paralysis of theinsane, while one was not classified. The clinicalaspects of the cases are described and comparedwith some of the other cases collected from theliterature. A useful bibliography is appended.- Dr. C. Worster-Drought and Dr. T. R. Hill reporta case of Arrest of Physical Development (withRespiratory Dysrhythmia) following EpidemicEncephalitis in a boy aged 14, in whom the symptomsdated from an attack of epidemic encephalitis fouryears before. They suggest that the condition isdue to the hypothalamic centres being involved to amuch greater degree than occurs in post-encephaliticobesity and in the dyspituitary syndromes approxi-mating to the Frohlich type which occasionallyfollow epidemic encephalitis.-In a paper on theTreatment of Spastic Paralysis in Children, Dr. J. G.Johnstone, medical superintendent of the Heather-wood Orthopaedic Hospital at Ascot, maintains thatmuch can be done by operation to alleviate spasticparalysis in a very large percentage of cases. Heregards Stoffel’s selective motor nerve resection as themethod of choice in all cases, as it yields the bestresults, is always easy of application, and requiresless prolonged after-care.-Dr. Jean Smith describesAn Unusual Cardiac Malformation : Cor TriloculareBiventriculare with Mirror Picture Dextrocardia.The patient was a male infant, aged 36 hours, admittedto hospital with marked cyanosis and considerablerespiratory distress. The apex-beat was in the fifthright intercostal space. No thrill was felt and no-

murmur was heard. Death took place 16 hours afteradmission and the condition described in the title wasfound at autopsy.-Dr. Hilda N. Stoessiger records acase of Recovery from Pneumococcal Meningitiswith a review of the few other cases reported in theliterature. The patient was a girl, aged 5 years, inwhom the meningitis was secondary to otitis media.Organisms resembling degenerate pneumococci wereseen in films of the turbid cerebro-spinal fluid, but nocultures of the organism were obtained. Recoveryfollowed subcutaneous and intrathecal injection of0-5 per cent. mercurochrome solution.-In a paperentitled Some Paediatric Eponyms II. Parrot’s Nodes,Dr. Walter R. Bett gives a translation of Parrot’soriginal description of the nodes in his Maladiesdes Enfants (Paris, 1886), followed by an account ofhis life and his other contributions to medicine, andillustrated by a fine portrait and a plate of a natiformskull.-The abstracts from current literature are

devoted to dermatology and syphilis.