746 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. IX. No. 230. 



pletely Charcot's conception of four more or 

 less Independent centers and particularly of a 

 so-called graphic center, and that we may con- 

 fidently maintain that the zone of language is, 

 as it were, a unit in its action, no part of which 

 may be seriously injured, without in a measure 

 impairing the entire mechanism of speech. 

 These claims are supported by much skilful 

 analysis of reported cases, and a careful reading 

 leaves us with the conviction of the reasonable- 

 ness of Collins' views. 



The greater part of the remainder of the book 

 is taken up with a more detailed consideration 

 of the varieties of speech disturbance, fre- 

 quently and pleasantly interrupted by the nar- 

 ration either of personal cases or of cases re- 

 ported by others. In the discussion of motor 

 aphasia much stress is laid upon a distinction 

 too often overlooked, namely, that between 

 cortical and sub-cortical motor aphasia. In the 

 failure to recognize this distinction — and the 

 same applies to sensory aphasia — Collins sees 

 one of the greatest impediments to progi'ess in 

 our knowledge ; and, conversely, the greatest 

 possible hope for more accurate kuowledgein the 

 future must lie in the careful microscopic study 

 ■of the brains of aphasic individuals, particularly 

 when the lesion lies beneath the cortex. The 

 details of diflferential diagnosis do not concern 

 the present review, but these chapters are to be 

 cordially recommended to those desiring some- 

 thing beyond a vague conception of the real 

 problems of the future. 



The diagnosis, etiology, morbid anatomy, 

 treatment and, finally, the medico-legal aspects 

 of aphasia are discussed in a somewhat less 

 complete form, as the scope of the book amply 

 justifies. Collins disagrees with certain other 

 writers as regards the responsibility of the 

 aphasic. His contention here is that in so far as 

 internal speech is unaflTected, or put anatom- 

 ically, if the cortical areas for stored memories 

 are intact, a person must be regarded as re- 

 sponsible, other things being equal. If, on the 

 contrary, such areas are involved, e. g., the area 

 for motor word memories, the person's testa- 

 mentary capacity should always be called in 

 question. Hence, again, the extreme impor- 

 tance of determining whether the lesion lead- 

 ing to the speech defect be actually in the zone 



of language or in that part of the nerve 

 mechanism wliich simply subserves the emis- 

 sion of words — sub-cortical. 



In general the monograph must be regarded 

 as a valuable contribution to American neuro- 

 logical literature. The subject-matter is pre- 

 sented in a scholarly way, and with a directness 

 and certainty of his position which is char- 

 acteristic of the author. It is to be regretted 

 that Bastian's recent work should have been 

 published too late to be fully included in Col- 

 lius's critical analysis. On the whole the au- 

 thor's conception and treatment of his subject 

 seem to us sound and representative of the best 

 type of scientific discussion. He gives us few 

 new observations, worked out with the detail, 

 particularly after death, which he so urgently 

 recommends, but this, no doubt, is due to lack 

 of opportunity. 



The style is for the most part clear. There 

 is, however, a constant tendency to use unnec- 

 essarily pedantic words, for which we can find 

 no excuse. In writing on scientific subjects 

 simplicity of diction is surely a first requisite, 

 and this Collins lacks. The following words 

 and expressions are correct, it may be, but cer- 

 tainly not well chosen : ' Ancientness, ' ' super- 

 ambient cortex,' 'speechfulness,' 'cotton rain 

 guard,' 'perishment,' 'disablement.' This is, 

 however, a minor criticism in an otherwise ex- 

 cellent piece of work. 



The book is admirably printed on rather un- 

 necessarily heavy paper and the proof reading 

 is almost faultless. An index adds ijiaterially 

 to its usefulness and convenience. 



E. W. T. 



Codex Borhonicus. Manuscrit Mexicain de la 

 Bibliotheque Du Palais Bourbon, Livre divi- 

 natoire et Rituel figure. Publie en fac-sim- 

 ile avec une commentaire explicatif par 

 M. E.-T. Hamy. Paris, 18S9. Eenest Le- 

 Eoux, Editeur. Text pp. 1-24, introduction 

 and 4 chapters. Plates folded screen fashion 

 No's. 2-38 in colors. 



This ancient Mexican book, formerly known 

 as the Codex Legislatif, is now published for the 

 first time, in exact fac-simile, color, size and 

 form. The original is on maguey paper, and 



