858 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXXVII. No. 962 



ehiatry relate to the determination of the 

 causes which give rise to imperfect adjust- 

 ments. 



A great blessing was conferred by sci- 

 ence upon humanity when the problems 

 of psychiatry were restated in biological 

 terms. Life was recognized as a process 

 of adjustment, relatively perfect in health 

 and imperfect in disease ; while that meta- 

 physical term insanity arbitrarily reserved 

 to designate certain forms of unsuccessful 

 adjustment was cast into the rubbish-heap 

 together with the chains, straight- jackets 

 and hand-cuifs which had long tortured 

 the lives of patients. Out of hazy mys- 

 tical conceptions entertained in regard to 

 the nature and genesis of activities de- 

 scribed as thought and conduct sprang 

 new ideas potent to inspire the minds of 

 investigators, capable not only of bringing 

 about great practical reforms in the care of 

 the insane, but also in improving the 

 methods for attacking the problems rela- 

 ting to human thought and conduct. 



As the ultimate success of the work to 

 be carried on in this clinic, more than in 

 any other department of the hospital, will 

 depend upon cooperative endeavor, I may 

 be permitted to emphasize what seems to 

 me to be an important factor in organiza- 

 tion and administration. The patients pre- 

 senting themselves for treatment are sub- 

 jects of imperfect adjustments in the life 

 process. The time during which they re- 

 main under observation in these wards will 

 represent relatively brief epochs of life, 

 and the records of eases will often give but 

 cursory glimpses into the genesis, duration 

 and progress of imperfect life adaptations. 

 In order to serve the high purpose for 

 which it is planned and dedicated this 

 clinic should be regarded as an important 

 link in a chain of agencies, home, school, 

 college, other hospitals and institutions; in 

 fact the entire social organization with 



which it is essential constant sympathetic 

 contact should be maintained. Only by the 

 establishment of these relationships can 

 progress in the study of life processes be 

 made. 



May we express the hope that in attempt- 

 ing to estimate the value of the work ac- 

 complished in this clinic the public expres- 

 sion of opinion should be tempered by 

 charity and patience. Although the field 

 of investigation, which includes the consid- 

 eration of the factors determining human 

 thought and conduct is the most interesting 

 one in modern medicine, let us not forget 

 that it is the last one to be thrown open to 

 investigators. 



The methods of investigation necessarily 

 employed will not appeal to the imagina- 

 tion of the public. The inspiration essen- 

 tial to solve the problems of modern psy- 

 chiatry will probably not flash into con- 

 sciousness as did the visions that guided 

 the observer watching the lamps swing in 

 the cathedral or the apple fall from the 

 tree, but it will come gradually only after 

 patient quiet effort, similar to that which 

 finally rewarded the author of ' ' The Origin 

 of Species," and gave a new meaning to 

 life. The realization of the ideals to which 

 we do homage to-day will mark the time 

 when, in Goethe's words, 



Vemunft fangt wieder an zu sprechen, 

 Und Hoffnung wieder an zu bliilin. 



Stewart Paton - 



TENTH INTEBNATIONAL VETEBINASY 



CONGBESS 

 The organizing committee of the Tenth 

 International Veterinary Congress to be held 

 in London, August 3 to 8, 1914, made a strong 

 appeal to the veterinary profession of the dif- 

 ferent countries to organize national commit- 

 tees as early as possible in order that an ap- 

 propriate propaganda may be carried on for 

 the congress, and thereby a large attendance 

 assured- 



