EDITORIAL. 



NEUROLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY. 



It is but natural that a marked transformation in externals 

 should awaken expectation of corresponding improvement 

 within. A pretentious gateway immediately creates visions 

 of a roomy chateau. But in our day, improvement is fre- 

 quently long delayed at the surface, and the elegant garments 

 and equipage of Mrs. Newrich afford an erroneous indication 

 of her mental equipment. Nor do we gain much consolation 

 from the knowledge that her daughters have acquired at 

 least the affectations of culture. 



The case is somewhat so with regard to psychology. The 

 study of brain and nerve is recognized as the gateway of 

 psychology, and the enormous though heterogeneous body of 

 the science of neurology, which has grown up in the last 

 twenty years, may legitimately lead us to expect a commen- 

 surate advance in the inner domain. But psychology, after 

 long hesitating to avail itself of the help thus offered, has 

 apparently been able to do little more than clothe itself 

 in the garb and acquire the language of neurophysiology. 

 It may be useful to cast a glance backward and observe some 

 of the steps toward the recognition of physiology by psych- 

 ology and the consequent reinterpretation of metaphysics.(') 



The first modern attempt at such a reconciliation is linked 

 with the name of Rene Descartes, who, at a time when the 



I For part of ihe material here employed I am indebted to the paper of Professor 

 Wilhelm Wundt, entitled " Gehirn und Scale," forming a part of his well-known volume 

 of popular essays. 



