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Forty-six authors—whose background of experience is unspecified—offer articles that vary greatly in value. Textually and bibliographically some show expert knowledge of their subjects; others are very simple commonsense contributions. Despite the title of the book and the editors' assertion that it deals with problems encountered in institutions for detention and custody, other aspects of delinquent and criminal behavior are considered, and psychology is by no means always featured. Several deal sketchily with general medical work in prisons, dentistry, eye, ear, nose and throat ailments, sedative measures for mental patients, gastric neuroses, etc.—all acknowledged to be much the same as extramural practice—interspersed with such articles as one on Essentials for Helping People, which has nothing to do with offenders. The longest and best documented chapter is on Sugar Metabolism in its Relation to Criminology which concludes by allowing that many investigations will be necessary to establish the validity of a relationship.
The editors, granting that there are omissions in this book, feel that it covers what 'is perhaps sufficient for present needs'. The reviewer's experience leads him to insist that a very grave omission, indeed, is the slight and only incidental discussion of the psychological effects of punishments and disciplinary regimes in institutions. Attitudes engendered by these forms of treatment are often of vital import for the current and future behavior of offenders. To be sure, Knight contributes some ten pages of sound ideas on The Meaning of Punishment, but this is confined mainly to the rearing of children. In addition to four excellent articles about 'psychopathic personalities', there are many other scattered comments on this type of offender. In the regrettable absence of an index, it is not easy to check, but it is evident that the general theme is pessimistic.
Quite interesting is the highly theoretical contention of Bergler that conf