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prove to be a weighty tome. Perhaps, however, what I havebeen able to describe will suffice to show not only that thesecongresses are interesting and instructive in themselves, butthat they do influence the legislation of many countries anddo help to bring about useful reforms. As for the work ofthe sections which I was not able to attend-for it is notpossible to be in eight different places at one and the sametime-some idea may be gathered of what they did from theresolutions which they adopted and which were confirmed atthe general and final meeting of the Congress. The Congresswas not so numerously attended as were the previous con-gresses ; it was therefore more compact, more easy to manage,and everything was carried out punctually according to theprogramme ; there was no hitch, no disappointment, and themembers and delegates finally separated satisfied at havingaccomplished a good work.

THE CONGRESSES ON PSYCHOLOGYAT PARIS.

(FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.)

A MULTITUDE OF PSYCHIC INVESTIGATORS.THE number of international congresses which have just

been held in connexion with the Universal Exhibition atParis and which dealt with psychic phenomena may betaken as evidence of the increasing interest this subject isawakening. Many of the best-known scientific authorities onthese questions have attended either the Second Congress of Hypnotism, or the Fourth Congress of Psychology, or both,and have helped to found the newly-created International In-stitute of Psychology. Then there has been the International

Congress on the History of Religions, which at first sightseems to be quite a different subject. But this Congressdiscussed the question of the miracles which all religionsclaim as confirming their faith. Then folk-lore was discussedwith its wonderful stories of witchcraft, necromancy, &c.,and evidence is being carefully collected to attemptto show that these popular delusions and superstitionsmight occasionally have had some foundation in thefacts now scientifically demonstrated of the power ofsuggestion on certain hypnotic subjects. Of course, theseare points still involved in much obscurity and aboutwhich doubts may very justifiably be expressed ; neverthe-less, it is a sign of the times that they have brought togethermen of science from all parts of the world who are

determined to sift the evidence and by practical experi-ments to demonstrate what is possible. The result ofthese discussions and experiments would fill many volumesand I cannot attempt even to summarise what was said anddone. Those who are interested must apply to the personsprincipally concerned, to the responsible general secretaries,and judging by the courtesy by which the French are

distinguished there is no doubt but that they will receiveprinted information, reports, &c. Thus, for the proceedingsof the International Congress on Hypnotism applicationsshould be made to Dr. Berillon, 14, rue Taitbout, Paris, andfor those of the Congress on Psychology to Dr. Pierre Janet,21, rue Barbet-de-Jouy, Paris. M. S. Yourievitch, Attacheof the Russian Embassy in Paris, 19, rue de 1’Université, isthe general secretary of the International PsychologicalInstitute.

SUB -CONSCIOUSNESS.The Congress on Hypnotism was well attended. Dr. JULES

VOISIN, of the Salpetriere Hospital, presided and ProfessorRAYMOND from the same hospital delivered the inauguraladdress. Reports were read by Dr. OSKAR VoGT of Berlinand by Dr. PAUL FAREZ on the Value of Hypnotism asa Means of Psychological Investigation. The latter pro-pounded the somewhat startling theory that man was notcomposed of one but of several individualities. There was achief among them who governed, but under hypnotism thismental leader might be converted into a mere spectator,conscious or unconscious. Then the secondary individuali-ties who were autonomous, though disciplined in hierarchicalorder, were able to act on their own responsibility. Thusthere was, according to this theory, a psychological atomismjust as undoubtedly there was a chemical atomism. Thesesub-conscious selves were described as veritable psychological

laboratories, which received and registered impressions. Theseimpressions, &c., ran a great risk of being entirely forgottenthrough being over-ridden by the dominant self or the chiefin the hierarchy of the many selves that were gatheredtogether in the one individual. By hypnotism we might, as itwere, temporarily dethrone the chief and then the subordinateswere free to tell what they knew. Thus memories of

things long forgotten were recalled and faculties evokedwhich in the normal state were obliterated or rather kept inthe background.-Dr. FÉLIX REGNAULT, in a report on thesame subject, sought to show how hypnotic ecstasy explainedthe ecstasy described in the lives of saints and urged thatthe part played by suggestion in the action of crowdswould furnish a totally different explanation to many ofthe most important facts of history and had more to dowith the winning of battles than the strategy of generalsand the weapons of the combatants.-Dr. P. JOIRE ofLille, dealing with the forensic aspect of the question,thought that the power which hypnotism gave might beexercised for evil as well as for good, yet the police recordsshowed that such cases were very rare. On the otherhand, the scientific knowledge of hypnotism could rendervery great service in the discovery of criminals. To hypnotisea person so as to make him confess his crimes would beequivalent to the re-establishment of examination by torture.But the victim of a crime might well be questioned underhypnotism, his memory thus being revived, and the policeput on the track of the criminal. Many other questions wereraised, but this brief mention of one or two among them mayserve to give some idea of the Congress.-The members visitedthe Salpêtril’re Hospital and Dr. Berillon’s clinic in the ruedes Arts, where they witnessed the treatment of the patients.

THE INTERNATIONAL PSYCHOLOGICAL INSTITUTE.

The Fourth International Congress of Psychology was verynumerously attended, though both Professor Lombroso andProfessor Ferri, from Italy, who had promised papers, werenot able to come. The German professors, however, were ingreat force and read several papers. One of the most interest-ing features of this Congress was the contest that arose onseveral occasions between the materialist and spiritualistschools. The latter must not be confused with what in.

England is improperly called "spiritualism" instead of

"spiritism." By "materialist" is meant the school that tracesevery mental phenomena to some condition of the physicalbody. The "spiritualist," on the contrary, conceives that theindividual may possess some form of intelligent existencethat can and does act independently of the animal body.This of course leads to the tremendous problem as to

whether mind is the fruit of matter or matter the mereinstrument of the mind. Consequently, if we wish to act

upon the mind, must we deal with the body or can we act onboth mind and body by dealing only with the mind? Then,to answer this fundamental question, have the experimentsmade in the domain of psychology been of any real service ?’It was generally felt that the scientific study of materialthings had progressed out of all proportion to the veryslow advance of psychic research, that the whole tendencyof western civilisation was to study and develop the

knowledge of the material resources of nature rather thanits psychic or spiritual powers and knowledge. Consequentlywhen it was proposed to the Congress that an internationalsociety should be formed so as to establish an InternationalPsychological Institute the suggestion was warmlysupported. This institute has now been established andpossesses a very influential committee, comprising, amongmany others, Mr. James Mark Baldwin, Professor of Psycho-logy at the University of Princeton; Professor W. F.

, Barrett, F.R.S., of the Royal College of Science, Dublin;, Dr. J. Milne Bramwell (London) ; Sir William Crookes, Pro-, fessor Oliver J. Lodge, F.R.S. (Liverpool), and other English

and American medical men. Nearly all the leading French; authorities on this subject are members of the committee,. such as Dr. Pierre Janet, Dr. Paul Joire, Dr. Bernheimj Baraduc, Dr. E. Boirac, Dr. Bouchard, Dr. Duclaux (directorof the Pasteur Institute at Paris), Dr. Durand-de-Gros,3Dr. Liebeault of Nancy, Dr. E. Metchnikoff of the Pasteur, Institute, Dr. Charles Richet, Dr. Ch. Ribot, and others.. From other countries may be mentioned Professor Mendeleieir1 of St. Petersburg, Dr. Ochorowicz of Warsaw, Dr. F. vonSchrenk-Notzing of Munich, and Professor Flournoy ofi Geneva, Professor Lombroso of Turin, Dr. P. Visani Scoz2i

of Florence. Altogether there is here a list of men which1 gives good promise if instead of merely lending their names

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to the institute they will also work in conjunction with oneanother to elucidate the probleme taken in hand.

HUMAN VIBRATIONS.

To return to the Congress of Psychology, what is likelyto interest the greatest number, at least of outsiders, arethe material facts that can be brought forward.But before it is possible to reach a fact it is most

necessary to be able to detect a fraud. In this

respect Dr. Encausse, who for many years was a co-workerwith Dr. Luys in the hypnotic wards of the Charite

Hospital, submitted some drawings of tables, chairs,sofas, &c., which were so arranged with electric wires thatthey would at once reveal even in the dark any fraudulentmovement on the part of a so-called medium. If such con-trivances were in more general use much of the prevailingimposture would be rendered impossible. Then Dr. JOHN E.PURDON, from California, read a paper on the "Transfer ofSensori-Motor Impulses proved by the Sphygmograph." " Dr.J. E. Purdon argued that Mr. John Beattie of Bristol,England, had demonstrated that " emanations from the

living body which may provisionally be termed vital vibra-tions could and actually did under a variety of forms impressthemselves" on photographic plates. Dr. Purdon, how- iever, deemed that such action could be more readily studied upon another similar organism. For this purpose the I,sphygmograph was employed, and the tracing resulting from a great number of experiments showed, it was claimed, that I"a forced vibration due to the dominance of a second person Ipropagated in some unknown manner from his nervous

system to that of the other person can be obtained."Apart from the three congresses just mentioned and which

are official congresses there have been other non-officialcongresses where notably ’’ spiritists

" have talked a good dealof nonsense and have made any number of affirmations theywere absolutely unable to prove. But amid much of this sortof loose talk there have been read some thoughtful paperswritten by persons who have had lengthy scientific training,and it is all symptomatic of a great and widespread cravingfor more light on these mysterious questions. The ParisUniversal Exhibition in gathering together people from allparts of the world has supplied the opportunity for renderingmanifest this growing tendency, this desire to unravel pastsuperstitions, and to bring all strange and as yet unexplainedphenomena to the test of scientific investigation.

Paris, Sept. 23rd. ,

LIVERPOOL.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

IN view of the possibility of the introduction of plagueinto the port of Liverpool the medical officer of health (Dr.E. W. Hope) has issued a short memorandum drawn up byDr. Balfour Stewart of University College showing the salientfeatures of the disease. Dr. Hope lays stress upon the factthat cases of pneumonia of uncertain character or patientssuffering from bubo without apparent cause may seekmedical advice. Having regard to these circumstances hehas made arrangements for the isolation in the city hos-pitals of such cases, and the sputum of any doubtful case ofpneumonia will be examined on application to Dr. BalfourStewart at the Thompson-Yates Laboratories, UniversityCollege. The names and addresses of all persons comingfrom infected ports are taken on arrival in the

port, and Dr. Hope is prepared to give any informationin his possession as to the antecedent movements of anystranger to the town. The I I memorandum " points out thatplague is generally associated with enlarged lymphaticglands, but not always. In the greater proportion of casesthe enlarged glands are those of the groins, both theinguinal and femoral chains of glands being involved ; nextin frequency come the axillary glands ; those in the cervicalregion are rarely enlarged. It is seldom possible to find aperipheral focus of infection ; when it is found it is often amere pimple. In an early case tenderness on pressure overone or other glandular region is found before the glandsenlarge. There are two types of plague-pestis minorand pestis major. In pestis mi,nor or a.mbzclatoryplague enlarged and tender glands are found ; theconstitutional symptoms are malaise and slight rise oftemperature. In some such cases, of exceptional mildness

advice would probably not be sought. In pestis majorthree forms are found : (a) bubonic, (b) pneumonic, and(e) septicæmic. The bubonic (a) form in which enlargedlymphatic glands occur is the most common. The buboes mayvary in size from that of an almond to that of a small orange.At first a hard and enlarged gland is felt, tender on pressure.Afterwards there is generally more or less oedema of thesubcutaneous tissue around the gland, and the skin pits onpressure and appears sodden and of a dull red colour. Laterthe bubo begins to soften in the centre and a hard ring isfelt around the breaking-down mass. The patient has ananxious and dazed expression ; he appears dull and stupid, asif under the influence of a drug, and later there may bedelirium. The conjunctivæ are injected. The temperaturevaries from about 101° to 104° F. The pneumonic (b) form isgenerally that of broncho-pneumonia. It may follow on thebubonic form or it may be primary, in which case buboes areseldom found. It is rapidly fatal. The septicœmic (c) form hasno peculiar characteristics to show that the blood-poisoningis caused by specific infection. It is also rapidly fatal.The brcbunic (a) form is the only form that would be likelyto be diagnosed from the symptoms and signs per se. A caseof broncho-pneumonia where the constitutional symptomswere severe in proportion to the amount of lung trouble or acase of septicaemia which could not be accounted for wouldsuggest the advisability of questioning the family for anyother case of illness. Should plague unfortunately cometo this city it would be very important to discoverthe first case. To this end it would help, if thepossibility were borne in mind, however remote, of (1) caseswith enlarged glands appearing suddenly and without

apparent cause ; or (2) cases of pneumonia being due to thisdisease. The following resolution was carried by the councilof the borough of Bootle :-That this council, as the local authority for the borough under the

Infectious Diseases (Notification) Act, 1889, doth hereby order that as acase of emergency the said Act shall apply within the borough to theinfectious disease known as "plague" ; that the cause of such emergencybe declared to be (inter alia) the present outbreak of bubonic plague atGlasgow and the highly infectious nature of the disease ; that suchorrler shall continue in force for three months from its coming intooperation at the expiration of one week from the date of the orderbeing advertised ; and that application be made to the Locil Govern-ment Board for their approval of such order.

Sept. 25h.

SCOTLAND.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.THE servants of the municipal corporation have declined to

accept a suggestion that each should contribute so muchregularly to this hospital and, on the contrary, have resolvedto contribute nothing at all, holding that the institutionshould be put on the rates and managed by a popularly-selected body.

Aberdeen Royal Asylum.The managers of the Aberdeen Royal Lunatic Asylum are to

purchase at the price of £7750 the lands of Ashgrove,adjoining the present grounds of Elmhill.

Sept. 25th. ______________

IRELAND.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.)

The late Sir William Stokes.IT is a sad coincidence that on the day when the account

of the funeral of the late Sir William Stokes appeared in theDublin papers the death of his accomplished sister, MissMargaret Stokes, was also announced. She was widelyknown as the author of many standard works on Irishecclesiastical architecture. Miss Stokes devoted a lifelongstudy to the subject and since the death of Dr. Petrie shewas recognised as the highest authority on the matter.

. The New Veterinary College for Ireland.The site for the new Veterinary College in Dublin-already

mentioned in THE LANCET-is causing some adverse criticismof the sanitary authorities who are accused of not beingsufficiently alert. Mr. Meldon, D.L., F.R.C.S. Irel., writesthat the College, if permanently established in its presentposition, will not alone be a source of great danger to the