MEMORY. 665 



the mode of study of the particular piece (due to tlie greater 

 interest, the greater suggestiveness, the generic similarity 

 with other pieces, the more sustained attention, etc., etc.), 

 and not at all to any enhancement of the brute retentive 

 power. 



The error I speak of j^ervades an otherwise useful and 

 judicious book, ' How to Strengthen the Memory,' by Dr. 

 Holbrook of New York.* The author fails to distinguish 

 between the general phj'siological retentiveness and the re- 

 tention of particular things, and talks as if both must be 

 benefited by the same means. 



" I am now treating," he says, " a case of loss of memory in a per- 

 son advanced in years, who did not know that his memory had failed 

 most remarkably till 1 told him of it. He is making vigorous efforts 

 to bring it back again, and with partial success. The method pursued 

 is to spend two hours daily, one in the morning and one in the evening, 

 in exercising this faculty. The patient is instructed to give the closest 

 attention to all that he learns, so that it shall be impressed on his mind 

 clearly. He is a.sked to recall every evening all the facts and expe- 

 riences of the day, and again the next morning. Every name heard is 

 written down and impressed on his mind clearly, and an effort made 

 to recall it at intervals. Ten names from among public men are or- 

 dered to be committed to memory every week. A verse of poetry is to 

 be learned, also a verse from the Bible, daily. He is asked to remem- 

 ber the number of the page in any book where any interesting fact i? 

 recorded. These and other methods are slowly resuscitating a failing 

 memory." t 



I find it very hard to believe that the memory of the 



poor old gentleman is a bit the better for all this torture 

 except in respect of the particular facts thus wrought into 

 it, the occurrences attended to and repeated on those days, 

 the names of those politicians, those Bible verses, etc., etc. 

 In another place Dr. Holbrook quotes the account given by 

 the late Thurlow Weed, journalist and politician, of his 

 method of strengthening his memory. 



"My memory was a sieve. I could remember nothing. Dates, 

 names, appointments, faces — everything escaped me. I said to my 

 wife, ' Catherine, I shall never make a successful politician, for I can- 

 not remember, and that is a prime necessity of politicians.' My wife 



* How to Strengthen the Memory; or, The Natural and Scientific Meth- 

 ods of Never Forgetting. By M. H. Holbrook, M.D. New York (no date), 

 t Page 39. 



