cxcii Journal of Comparative Neurology. 



which is the essential physiological condition for pleasure, while on 

 the other hand, irregularly recurring sounds cause a retardation in 

 propagation and a summation which is the physiological basis of 

 pain.] The discussion of affects, impulses, etc., follows Wundt 

 closely not to say servilly. Nor do we find anything novel in the tra- 

 ditional discussion of space and time. As a text book is seems a pity 

 that the work could not have afforded more detail in experimental 

 matters that the student might catch a glimpse of the actual laboratory 

 methods of the science. This factor is almost wholly excluded from 

 the volume. In the third part is a practical repetition of the discus- 

 sion of attention which closely follows Wundt in appearance. Of 

 course the idea that the observed motor coordinations and sensory re- 

 flexes are causes of attention is repudiated but these are enumerated 

 as conditions along with interest and the relation of an impression to 

 the psycho-physical disposition. Ribot's theory of the evolution of 

 attention is summarily dismissed and recourse is again found in Wund- 

 tian apperception. The question of the freedom of the will in the 

 sense of absolutely indeterminate action is decided in the negative. 

 Conditions for the choice may be unperceived but always exist. Ap- 

 perception and will are fundamentally the same function. The ap- 

 parent power ascribed to the will is derived from appperception. The 

 work closes with a brief and colorless discussion of sleep, dreams and 

 hypnotism. 



Such a cursory glance as we have here given cannot fail to do any 

 comprehensive work more or less injustice. But we have endeavored 

 to give an adequate notion of the extent and tendency of the book and 

 some hint of its method. While finding it wanting in illustrations of 

 modern methods of research and prolix without being complete, and 

 recognizing the limitations due to the preponderating influence of a 

 single master we gladly recognize many valuable features which adapt 

 it for use as a text book where the necessary perspective is furnished 

 by the instructor. 



C. L. H. 



Cortical Alterations Following Section of Dorsal Spinal Roots. 1 



The results obtained may be summed up in a few words thus : 

 i. After section of the dorsal roots the excitability of the Ro- 

 landx zone is notably changed; and hence the integrity of the gen- 



^omasini, S. L'eccitabilita della zona motrice dopo la recisione della 

 radici spinali posteriori. Lo Sperimentale, XLVIII, 4, 1894. 



