This book, a selection from the literature so far available concerning the latest tranquillizing drugs, has no direct bearing on psycho-analysis. It is a pity, however, that no co-operation has yet been achieved between psycho-analysts on the one hand and the many psychiatrists who use the new tranquillizers on the other. What could be undertaken is a psycho-pathological study of the effects and meaning to the patients of the drugs they are receiving. Without such a study our knowledge of the effects of tranquillizers, including their long-term effects, is likely to remain relatively superficial.

This book is so enormous that I asked a colleague working in the relevant field to read it page by page. He reports that every aspect of the subject is covered, there being separate chapters on pharmacology, side-effects, mode of action, result of treatment, drug trials, and a general discussion on broader aspects of