1208 The American Naturalist. [December 
function of the part ever in view. Noticeable throughout the book is 
the increased and careful attention paid to the differences in the 
actions of the nervous systems of different species of animals and the 
principle of evolution of function. This principle is rightly occupy- 
ing an ever-widening field in physiology, and that this is so is demon- 
strated by the fact that this, the foremost physiological text-book in 
the English language, gives it prominent consideration. Also notice- 
able throughout is the constant endeavor to impress the reader with 
an idea of the extreme complexity of cerebral operations, and the 
present impossibility of separating from the whole and sharply formu- 
lating the functions of a particular organ, like the optic thalamus or 
the cerebellum. ‘The physiologist ought not to use the words, 
‘functions of the cerebellum.’ From a physiological point of view 
it is, so to speak, a matter of accident, that various structures, the seats 
of various physiological processes, have, from morphological causes, 
been gathered together into the body which anatomists call the cere- 
bellum. The task of the physiologist is to unravel the ties binding 
these various cerebellar structures with other parts of the central nerv- 
ous system, and so with various parts of the body at large." The dis- 
cussions of disputed points are full, lucid, and admirable. The parts 
on the special senses and on reproduction remain yet to be published. 
The Brain of Laura Bridgman.— The case of the blind deaf- 
mute, Laura Bridgman, is known the world over. Born a normal child in 
Hanover, N. H., in 1829, she lost almost completely, at about two years 
of age, through an attack of scarlet fever, her special senses, except that 
of touch—more exactly, the left eye was entirely blinded by the disease, 
but sight remained, very slightly developed, in her right eye up to the 
eighth year; hearing and power of speech together disappeared with 
he disease ; smell remained very unimportant and variable throughout 
life ; taste persisted in a small degree ; the temperature sense was poor, 
_ while touch continued very acute. At about eight years of age she 
entered the Perkins Institution, Boston, and her education was taken 
in charge by Dr. S. G. Howe, the director. The results of en 
training are wellknown. Her mental development became remarkab 
considering her defective avenues for the incoming of sense impressions. 
At twenty years of age her regular education ceased, but she continued 
to reside at the institution until her death in May, 1889. 
A study of the brain of such an individual would be interesting, as 
showing the correlation of brain structure and mental development. 
After her death the brain was placed in the hands of Dr. H. H. Donald- 
son, of Clark University, for study. The first report upon the subject 
has just been published.” The author has made an extremely careful 
1 American Journal of Psychology, Vol. IIL., 1890, P- 293. 
