the frog, in which it is shown that the reflex follows only from a specific quality of stimulation, and that this arrangement is biologically useful to the animal.

J. C. B. Scaffidi, Vittorio. Sulla presenza di fibre efferenti nelle radici posteriorie e sulla origine delle fibre vasomotorie che si trovano in esse. Archivio di Fisiol. ogia, Vol. I, pp. 586-603, 1904.

A good review of the literature on the posterior roots and an account of seven experiments on dogs, from which it appears that no true Wallerian degeneration follows an incision, that the degeneration observed is traumatic, and that therefore we are not justified in assuming the presence of efferent fibers. Further researches are necessary to settle the question of the origin of the vasomotor fibers found there.

J. C. B. Parker, G. H. The Reversal of Ciliary Movement in Metazoans. Amer. Jour. Physiol. 13, 1-16, 1905.

The author has demonstrated that reversal of ciliary movement, few instances of which are known among the metazoa, occurs in the labial cilia of Metridium marginatum under certain conditions. Experiments indicate that reversal is due to the action of potassium ions, in case of the substances tested, and not to osmotic action or mechanical stimulation. Reversal occurs only where the stimulus is applied, and there is no evidence of a nervous reflex.

R. M. Y.

Pick. Des zones de Head et leur importance en psychiatrie. Journ. de psychol. norm. et pathol., 1, 113-117, 1904.

An account of a case of interest particularly to psychologists in showing that abnormal sensations may give arise to the most diverse and peculiar interpretations.

Some years ago HEAD pointed out that certain modifications of skin sensibility accompany derangements of internal organs (so called "zones of Head"). The case cited by PICK is that of a woman with hyperaesthesia in the region of the left breast, and with ideas of persecution, which, it was afterwards discovered, were due to the deranged sensations. The region of hyperaesthesia corresponded to that for the stomach, and further examination disclosed a dilatation of that organ. Under treatment, in a few days there was an amelioration of the stomach's condition and a disappearance of the delusions and sensory disturbances.

8. I. F.

Wollenberg, R. Die Hypochondrie. Nothnagel's Specielle Pathologie und
Therapie. Bd. 12, Theil I, Abth. 3, pp. 66. Wien, Hölder 1904.
The author has given a satisfactory treatment of a very unsatisfac-
tory subject. There is a great difficulty, sometimes impossibility, of

distinguishing between hypochondria and neurasthenia, and, in fact, hypochondria is not a disease entity, but only a psychopathic state, a morbid mental disposition of some kind. There are many varieties and fantastic aspects of the condition, but, in general, it may be said that the patient is usually depressed, and his attention directed chiefly to the condition of his body. WOLLENBERG rightly remarks that the cure comes 'not by means of physic, but by means of the physician.

S. I. F.

Hellpach, Willy. Grundlinien einer Psychologie der Hysterie. Leipzig, Englemann, 1904, viii. + 502. Price M.9.

This is an exhaustively complete historical and analytical study of hysteria. Of its three chief parts the first deals with the problems of hysteria, the second, with the physiological and psychological phenomena included under this form of abnormal state or closely associated with it, the third, with the genesis of hysteria.

As space does not permit of an attempt to indicate the views set forth in the book, a list of the titles of chapters will serve to suggest the general plan of treatment. I. The development of the problems of hysteria. This is chiefly an historical sketch. 2. The concept of disease. A thoughtful discussion of the concept of reactive and productive abnormality, and of the conditions which determine their use. 3. The logic of psychopathology. In this interesting epistemological study of the subject, of chief value to the pathologist, is a discussion of disease as a developmental concept. 4. Suggestion and psychic causality An introduction to the author's analysis of hysteria. 5. The hysterical disturbances of movement. 6. The hysterical disturbances of perception. 7. The hysterical intellect. 8. The psychophysical obstacle before the psychology of hysteria. 9. The sources of hysteria. This chapter contains an account of the relations of the child mind to hysteria, and also of the bearing of "docility' upon this form of psychic abnormality. 10. The path to hysteria. 11. The development of the hysterical condition. 12. The socialpathological problem of hysteria.

The work gives an excellent history of the special problems. under consideration, and a convenient bibliography of important literature. It is of equal interest to the psychiatrist, the psychologist and the epistemologist; and one may venture the judgment that for all there is something of real value in the work.

R. M. Y.

Bressler, Joh. Wie beginnen Geisteskrankheiten? Marhold, Halle. pp. 56. 1905.

Citing freely from such psychiatrists as KRAEPELIN, von Krafft

EBING, MÜLLER, SCHULE, and others, the author enumerates with considerable detail the early symptoms of such typical nervous and mental diseases as dementia praecox, progressive paralysis, melancholia, mania, paranoia, neurasthenia, etc. From this array of evidence he concludes, 1st., That every mental disease begins with physical, especially nervous symptoms; 2nd., That no mental disease begins with a pathologically cheerful mood, except mania; 3rd., That in spite of the great differences observable in the fully developed forms of mental disease the early symptoms are to a large degree common and uniform. The author pleads for a larger number of public hospitals for the treatment of nervous affections which, if neglected, may readily develop into insanity. J. C. BELL.

Sterzi, G. Intorno alla Struttura dell 'Ipofisi nei Vertebrati. Atti Accad. Sci. Veneto-Trent.-Ist. Cl. Sci. Nat., I. Padua, 1904. 9 text-figures. This paper has a very wide range and includes the whole of the vertebrates from cyclostomes to mammals. A general scheme is given illustrating the rise of the hypophysis, from which it would appear that the organ is invariably formed of an epithelial and a nervous portion, the former of which being divided by its micro-chemical reactions into a chromophilous and a chromophobic section, of which the former increases and the latter decreases as we rise in the series. The paper is useful contribution to the comparative anatomy of the hypophysis.

F. J. C.

Sterzi, G. Morfologia e Sviluppo della Regione Infundibolare e dell' Ipofisi nei Petromizonti. Arch. Anat. Embriol., 3, 212. 6 plates and 3

text-figures. Florence, 1904.

In the first part of the paper after a short historical section the author describes the post-optic recess, saccus vasculosus, cavum corporis mammillaris (of JOHNSTON's terminology) and hypophysis of Petromyzon marinus, subsequently comparing the latter with P. fluviatilis and P. planeri. He concludes that the hypophysis is a glandular organ, the secretion of which by its action on the blood capillaries has an effect upon the blood pressure. Part II contains a description of the development of the infundibular region in Ammocoetes of from 17 to 157 mm. The plates illustrate both parts of the paper.

F. J. C.