Foxe, Arthur N. Studies in Criminology (Nervous and Mental Disease Monographs, No. 76). [New York:  Nervous and Mental Monographs, 1948. Pp.  162. $4.50.]

This volume represents a collection of some 22 papers written at various times between 1936 and 1946. With the exception of three of them most have been previously published. The papers have been divided into three sections—general, classification, and psychoanalytic. The general reader will find those of the first and third sections of most interest. Those of the second section are of greater interest to the specialist involved

primarily in prison psychiatry and its eternally vexing problems of classification of prisoners from a psychiatric point of ciew.

Dr. Foxe has had much experience with prison psychiatry and this field has been one of special interest to him. He knows it from the inside and knows its many problems. He always writes pertinently and with the intention of being of practical help. Thus, the papers discussing classificatory problems should be carefully studied by all interested; they are products of practical knowledge and wide clinical and analytic experience. Some of the general papers such as the ones entitled “Massive Structure of Delinquency” and “Witchcraft” are especially good reading. It is curious how wide the field of psychiatric interest may become as one mulls over the problems of human beings. The final section offers some fascinating discussions of analysis and analytic theory in relationship to our knowledge of criminal and delinquent behavior. The author has coined the term “criminotic” for individuals in whom society, courts or psychiatry can find no evidence of mental disease. Many readers with no actual experience with criminals may object strongly to the introduction of such a term or be quick to point out that the criminal falls into this, that or the other type of classification. However, those who have worked within the field know how practical such terms “criminosis” and “criminotic” can actually be. They do fill a very definite gap—perhaps an indication of our lack of real knowledge concerning the well-springs of criminal