cliv Journal of Comparative Neurology. 



mittent melancholia) ; (3) insanity of double form (species: contin- 

 uous and intermittent double form insanities). The partial insanities 

 have only one genus; systematized progressive insanity, composed of 

 three stages or species : (1) hypochondriacal insanity; (2) persecutory, 

 religious, political, erotic, jealous, etc., insanities; (3) ambitious 

 insanity. 



"The degeneracies subdivide also into two groups : (1) degener- 

 acies of evolution or vices of psychic organization ; (2) degeneracies 

 of involution or psychic disorganizations. The vices of organization 

 include four genera : (1) disharmonies (species : defect of balance, 

 originality, eccentricity); (2) neurasthenias (species : fixed ideas, im- 

 pulsions, aboulias); (3) phrenasthenias (species : delusional, reasoning, 

 instinctive); (4) monstrosities (species: imbecility, idiocy, cretinism). 

 The psychic disorganizations include but one genus : the dementias, 

 which are also summed up in one species, simple dementia. 



"II. There are no primary states of mental alienation other 

 than the preceding. All other insanities do not exist as distinct en- 

 tities. They are nothing but associations of a generalized simple in- 

 sanity, mania or melancholia, with some physiological or patholog- 

 ical process in the organism." 



The remainder of part I consists in the separate consideration of 

 these species, and their secondary derivatives, their etiology, symptom- 

 ology, progress, diagnosis, treatment etc. Part II is devoted to the 

 Applications of Mental Pathology to Practice. In the chapters 

 devoted to diagnosis, medical estimation of the necessity of seques- 

 tration, treatment in asylums and in homes, the key note is set by the 

 word tact. Infinite patience, skill and perfect self-control are re- 

 peatedly urged and insisted upon. Moderate in all things, the author 

 does not yield to the tendency now prevailing in some quarters to abol- 

 ish mechanical restraint altogether, but urges its careful and humane 

 application in some cases as a measure of real curative value. Be- 

 sides the chapters on general curative agents, ten pages are devoted to 

 therapeutic formulas. 



The chapter on the hereditary features of insanity contains much 

 of practical value and reproduces some of the conclusions reached in 

 the book on the biological characters of the families of the insane, 

 of which M. Regis is joint author with Professor Ball. The section 

 on Medico-Legal Practice refers largely to French law and a consid- 

 erable portion has been omitted in the translation. The translation 

 appears to have been conscientiously performed. 



c. j. H. 



