Miscellany

Michaels, J. J., and Goodman, S. E. Enuresis and Other Neuropathic Traits in Children (Am. Jl. Orthopsych., 4).—Impressed with the different methods of approach, depending on the specific interest of the investigator, to the understanding of neuropathic traits, the authors stress the necessity for a multidimensional attack, perhaps best attained from the standpoint of the total situation with the intensive study of fewer cases. In reference to the problem of enuresis itself, it would seem indicated to procure further specific data as to the frequency of the enuresis, all the possible factors associated with its occurrence, and the age of cessation in individuals, as the persistence of the trait definitely appears to be of importance. This character of persistence can be applied to other neuropathic traits as well. Thus in addition to the presence of a neuropathic trait, its duration becomes of great value. Summarizing the actual findings, we note that enuresis seems to be more prevalent in the non-Jewish campers than in the Jewish. The ordinal position of the child seemed to be negligible, except in boys who were the “only” children in the family. The prevalence of the various traits as recorded here may appear greater than one might suspect in a general population. This relatively high incidence in so-called normals may indicate the necessity for lessening the importance ordinarily attached to such traits individually. Five traits (enuresis, thumb-sucking, nail-biting, speech impediments, and temper tantrums) were found to occur more often in combination than in isolation, and specifically the last four more often with enuresis, providing a certain valuable orientation as to the significance of the characteristics under consideration, and suggesting the presence of enuresis as a possible common indicator of this type of symptom-complex. Further, belief in the natural tendency toward correlation is strengthened here, pointing toward a dependency on innate predisposi