the nerve stands in direct relation to the rapidity of the process of contraction in the muscle." In the light of this possible relation between the rapidity of muscle contraction and that of nerve transmission the author is led to suggest that "a similar relation may exist between the processes of conduction in the secretory nerves and the processes of secretion in the glands. The rate of the nervous impulse would thus constitute a measure of the relative rapidity of the metabolic process in muscle and gland." As evidence of this relationship the following table seems worthy of reproduction: Comparison between the contraction-time of the muscle and the rate of propagation of the impulse in the nerve. 1 Carlson. Archiv für die gesammte Physiologie, ci, p. 23, 1904. 'Frederica and Vandevelde. Bulletins de l'Académie Royale du Belgique. 'Jenkins and Carlson. American Journal of Physiology, viii, p. 251, 1903. R. M. Y. Carlson, A. J. Beiträge zur Physiologie der Nervensystems der Schlangen. Pflüger's Archiv, Bd. 101, pp. 23-51, 1904. This paper is a report of an experimental study of the physiology of the snake. Its results include (1) certain functional indications of the nature and courses of the nerve tracts in the cord, (2) the determination of the rate of nerve impulse, it being in the cord 16 m. per second (for the centrifugal), and in the hypoglossus nerve 10.5 m. per second, (3) observation that the brain is able to execute apparently conscious functions at least two and a half hours after separation from the spinal cord. R. M. Y. Kiesow, F. Contribution à l'étude dela vélocité de propagation du stimulus dans le nerf sensitif de l'homme. Archives Italiennes de Biologie, t. 40, pp. 273-280, 1903. By carefully measuring the reaction-time of thoroughly trained subjects to tactual stimuli applied at different regions of the arm or leg KIESOW has succeeded in showing to his satisfaction that the rate of transmission in the sensory nerves of man is practically the same as for the motor nerves, 30 to 33 m. per second. The work is very clean cut, and the results are so uniform that one cannot doubt the truth of the author's conclusions. R. M. Y. Motora, Yujiro. A Study on the Conductivity of the Nervous System. Amer. Jour. Psy., Vol. 14, pp. 329-350, 1903. This is a brief discussion of theories of nerve conduction, and a description of certain experiments upon which the author bases his so-called hydraulic theory. For the facts of nerve transmission, he writes: "I propose an hydraulic explanation. It supposes that nervous conduction is a transmission of a water wave in a protoplasmic tube and that the protoplasmic tube not only helps the transmission by its own elasticity but is excitable at any point by means of a stimulus directly applied to it.” MOTORA experimented with water-filled tubes under various conditions to determine whether the phenomena characteristic of nerve conduction are exhibited also by them. The experiments deal with the following topics: Experiment 1-Rate of transmission of water wave in rubber tubes. It was found to be about 100 feet per second, or approximately the same as the nerve rate. Experiment 2-Evidence of an action current. Under certain conditions, we are told, the wave in a tube filled with slightly acidulated water is accompanied by what appears to be a thermo-electric current. The author writes concerning the action current in the nerve, "I believe that the action current is explicable as a thermo-electric current produced between two points of the nerve where the electrodes touch it." Experiment 3 -Inhibition phenomena. This study of the interference of water waves leads the author to the conclusion that the phenomena of attention and inhibition "are very conveniently explained under the supposition of a protoplasmic tube" (filled with fluid). Although the paper yields no definite results so far as our knowledge of the nature of the nerve impulse is concerned, it contributes several curiously interesting facts, and a few analogies of problematic value. R. M. Y. Lillie, Ralph S. The Relation of Ions to Ciliary Movement. Amer. Jour. Gowers, William R. Subjective Sensations of Sight and Sound, Abiotrophy, The lecture on subjective visual sensations limits itself largely to the conditions in migraine, epilepsy; the one on subjective sensations of sound to the various forms of tinnitus. As such they form an interesting supplement to any chapter of hallucinations. A note (p. 9095) is a plea to change the accepted form of designating musical notes as C, C, C, C C C C C C C3, which gives the "neutral C" to the middle C between the bass and treble staves, and has some mnemotechnical advantages concerning the number of vibrations (C=33; C1=66; further C the first number with four figures, i. e. 1065, and C-4224). The lecture on Abiotrophy; (diseases from defect of life) introduces a new term for deficiency of vitality of special tissues and parts of tissues: skin, baldness, muscles, nervous system, etc., and the supplementary interstitial overgrowth, either, as deficent constitutional endowment, or as such defect brought on through toxic and toxinic factors with selective degenerations. Leture IV, on Myopathy and a Distal Form, deals with an important type of this group. The remaining lectures, on Metallic Poisoning, Syphilitic Diseases of the Nervous System, Inevitable Failure (a study of syphilitic arterial disease), Syringal Haemorrhage into the Spinal Cord, Myasthenia and Ophthalmoplegia, and the use of drugs, are probably of more exclusively medical interest. It is to be regretted that the "Dynamics of Life" are not included in this collection. A. M. Bourneville. Recherches et Therapeutiques sur L'Epilepsie, L'Hysterie et This Annual Report of the Institution at Paris is followed as usual by the study of a number of cases: The Mongolian type (with histological examination of two brains); the role of alcoholism in the production of idiocy, etc. This is the 23d Volume of a very creditable series. A. M. E Raymond, F. and Janet, Pierre. Les Obsessions et la Psychasthénie, Vol. This second volume of the very interesting work of Professor JANET brings the clinical material underlying and further illustrating the discussions of the first volume. It is a treasure of clinical information, full of masterly descriptions and analyses. The whole work is a remarkable continuation of the similar set of two volumes-"Névroses et idées fixes." A. M. Mills, Wesley. The Neurones and the Neurone Concept Considered from the Anatomical, Physiological, Pathological and Psychological Point of View. Montreal Medical Journal, Dec., 1903. An illustrated summary of the leading facts on which the neurone doctrine is based, occupying 22 pages. C. J. H. Dogiel, A. S. Ueber die Nervenendapparate in der Haut des Menschen. Zeits. f. w. Zool., Bd. 75, H. 1, pp. 46-111, Pl. IV-XIV, 1903. Methylene blue method. An important histological paper. J. B. J. Hübschmann, Paul. Untersuchungen über die Medulla oblongata von Dasypus villosus. Zeits. f. w. Zool., Bd. 75, H. 2, pp. 258-280, 1903. J. B. J. Marenghi, Giovanni. Alcune particolarità di struttura e di innervazione della cute dell'Ammocoetes branchialis. Zeits. f. w. Zool., Bd. 75, H. 3, pp. 221-429, 1903. The author finds by the GOLGI method, in addition to the free nerve endings already known, sense cells in the epidermis which give rise to centripetal fibers. The reviewer has studied the same structures, which are frequently impregnated in his preparations of Lampetra, and has come to the conclusion that they are ordinary epidermal cells, the precipitate upon which is continuous with that upon neighboring free nerve fibers. J. B. J. |