Schizophrenia (Dementia Præcox): Vol. X. of a Series of Research Publications by the New York Association for Research in Nervous and Mental Disease. (The Williams and Wilkins Company, 1931. Pp. 246 + xv. Price 21 s. net.)

Here are twelve contributions detailing specific researches of varying importance, mostly non-psycho-analytical. We learn, for example, that the barrier between the blood and cerebrospinal fluid is weakened to some extent in 60 per cent. of the cases—as tested by administering bromide solutions; that there is a deficiency of catalytic iron in the ganglion cells; that the return of the heart-beat after exercise to its normal rate is low, and that 'environmental influences have in each case given a special emotional value to the topic of sex, have hampered social intercourse in general, have made it difficult for the patient to establish a healthy atmosphere in which there is the natural progression through acquaintanceship, friendship, courtship to a marriage which fully satisfies the demands of human nature' (Macfie Campbell). Another paper studies the personality of patients under such headings as neurotic habits, recreations, sympathy, self-assertiveness, day-dreaming, sex-habits, intelligence, absent-mindedness, etc. (34 in all). Jelliffe has a paper in which he tries, not very successfully, to throw light on dementia præcox by comparing it with encephalitis. Using Head's 'vigilance' idea, he regards repression as a hypervigilance. Spielmeyer's paper on the anatomy of Schizophrenia is an argument in favour of the organic origin of Dementia Præcox. What an opportunity! For some inscrutable reason, however, he has compressed his subject into three pages and produced merely a bald and unconvincing contribution.

In the Prognosis Section one author contends that acuteness of onset should suggest curability, but in the reviewer's not inextensive experience the mode of onset is an unreliable guide.

For the Treatment Section Dr. Hinsie has been looking up the reports of the various treatments vaunted by several authors. If we omit those who honestly report no benefit, we find that no fewer than 323 improved out of 886 (36.4 per cent.) while 52 recovered (6 per cent