Hv Journal of Comparative Neurology. 



finds that, except in young girls, who have a very fine sense of touch, 

 women in general are almost twice as obtuse as men when tested by 

 Weber's aesthesiometer, which measures the distance, in millimeters, 

 between two points, which can be determined as distinct on the 

 skin of the index finger. In women of the lower classes, 2.6 mm.; for 

 women of the upper classes, 2.0 mm.; for men, 1.5 mm. 



It is interesting to notice the general fact that persons with de- 

 generate physiognomic characters are much less acute. The sense of 

 taste and of smell is, if anything, more acute in women. Sensitive- 

 ness to pain as tested by the electric algometer is much less in women. 



The inferior sensitiveness of woman is further indicated by her 

 greater immunity from the various sexual psychopathies so frequent 

 in men, her readiness to believe in Platonic love, and her greater re- 

 straint in the sexual relations. He quotes with approval the saying, 

 "A man loves a woman for her sex, a woman loves in a man the 

 husband and the father." 



It would be Interesting to see whether the statements quoted 

 respecting the results of ^esthometric tests would apply to the edu- 

 cated and sensitive women of the better classes in this country. 



Experiments made in the perception of the rate of vibration of a 

 violin string, seem to show a suggestive relation between the number 

 of vibrations perceivable and the quickness of mental processes and 

 stands in favor of men so far as the writer has carried the comparison. 



Ag^itatiou for Paralysis Agitans. 



Charcot has applied the observation of the beneficial results of a 

 railroad journey in the above disease by devising a shaking arm chair 

 and vibrating helmet, the use of which relieves the trembling and stif- 

 ness characteristic of the disease and permits quiet sleep. 



Dr. Kellogg, of Battle Creek, Mich., has employed the vibratory 

 chair for some time with useful results. It remains for physiologists 

 to explain the undoubted therapeutic value of these rapid vibrations, 

 which may after all owe their value chiefly to the anesthesia or local- 

 ized fatigue produced. 



Origin of tlie Will.' 



The first exhibition of desire and will in the child appear in per- 

 sistent imitation. The characteristic things about will are deliberation 

 and feeling of effort. Deliberation is a state of plurality of represen- 



1 Baldwin, J. M. Suggestion and Will, hitcrn. Cong. Exp. Psychology. 

 London session, 1892. 



