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BOOK REVIEWS Topometrie Cranio-Encephalique chez L'homme (Cranio-Cerebral Topometry in Man). By A. Delmas and B. Pertuiset. (Pp. 436; 121 figures, 187 sectional drawings and photographs. £14.) Oxford: Blackwell Scientific Publications; Paris: Masson et Cie. 1959. This is a beautifully produced volume designed to aid the stereotaxic worker in his search for the location in space of intracerebral structures. This problem is rendered more difficult by the individual variation in these structures. Correlation between the location of subcortical structures and the cephalic index are pre- sented, determining the spatial limits of any given individual structure in relation to standard cerebral planes. The limits can be derived from either graphs or equations given in the book, based upon statistical analysis of measurements of 21 subcortical structures in 14 subjects. The authors note, and one would agree, that it is surprising that meaningful conclusions can be drawn from a study of such a small series, but the validity of the deductions is based on Fisher's work on the probabilities of small series analysis. The book in addi- tion contains a useful atlas of drawn and photographed cerebral sections. A short review of the statistical theory upon which the work is based is helpful, and there is a useful anatomical catalogue and alphabetical index of anatomical structures. The work is particularly valuable as it is for general purposes and not designed for use with any one particular stereoencephalotome. The text is in both French and English. L'Angiographie Cer6brale. By Joel Bonnal and Jacques Legr6; Foreword by Prof. J.-E. Paillas. (Pp. 254; 223 figures.) Paris: Masson et Cie. 1958. There are not many textbooks on this subject and Bonnal, a neurosurgeon, and Legr6, a radiologist, both from Marseilles, have covered the field well. The illus- trations and line drawings are of a high quality, but it is unfortunate that all the radiographs are positives. However, this practice is by no means confined to French publications. After introducing the subject by describing the technique, indications, and dangers of angiography, the authors outline the normal angiographic appearances, both of the carotid and vertebral trees. This is followed by the largest chapter, which is devoted to neoplasms. The other chapters concern aneurysms and angiomas, obliterative lesions of the main vessels, and finally a few miscellaneous conditions. One is a little shocked by the illustrations in the chapter on technique. It seems that the protection of the operator and his assistants from ionizing radiation consists only in the use of a long connecting system between the injecting syringe and the intra-arterial needle. There is no suggestion of using lead-rubber pro- tective screens. The bibliography is adequate but not exhaustive. It is gratifying to find work quoted from a number of countries, but the large majority of references are con- tinental European. The book is to be recommended as one of the best of the recent publications on cerebral angiography. Temporal Lobe Epilepsy. A colloquium presented under the auspices of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, 1957. Edited by Maitland Baldwin and Pearce Bailey. (Pp. xiii + 581; illustrated. £5 17s. 6d.) Oxford: Blackwell Scientific Publications; Springfield, Illinois: Charles C. Thomas. 1958. This monograph contains the reports and discussions of the Second Intemational Colloquium on Temporal Lobe Epilepsy held in 1957 at the U.S. National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, under the leadership of Earl Walker and Henri Gastaut. It follows on the reports in the Acta Medica Belgica of the first colloquium which was held at Marseilles in 1954. Many contributors who are among the leaders in this field in north and south America and in Europe have taken part, and the volume consists of some 33 separate papers with the subsequent discussions. It has been arranged in four parts starting with the neurophysiological and electrophysiological aspects, and thence progressing through neuropatho- logy and neurochemistry before coming to the surgical aspects. The final section deals with the clinical and psychological effects of temporal lobe ablations both in man and in animals. Most of the reports are short and several are excellent, but it is inevitable that some papers overlap and that contrary views are given. Still, the monograph contains such a wealth of information that it is likely to be a reference book for those interested in epilepsy. The aspects in which the information is some- what sparse concem the historical development of the concept of temporal lobe epilepsy, its treatment by anti- convulsant drugs and other medical regimes, and its importance in psychiatric practice. Chronic Subdural Hematoma. By Ragnar Nordlie. (Pp. 164; 24 figures.) Oslo: Johan Grundt Tanum Forlag. 1958. This short monograph brings up for discussion the problems in the recognition and management of chronic subdural haematomas. It follows the Scandinavian custom of taking some 52 personal cases (43 chronic and nine acute subdural haematomas), and comparing their symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment with views expressed in the literature. The author propounds the view that his condition should not remain undiagnosed only 348 guest. Protected by copyright. on 10 October 2018 by http://jnnp.bmj.com/ J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry: first published as 10.1136/jnnp.22.4.348 on 1 November 1959. Downloaded from

BOOK REVIEWS - jnnp.bmj.com · Neuroftalmologia. By P. Ottonello and G. W. Vassura. (Pp. 611; 149 figures. Lira 15,000.-.) Bologna: Cappelli Editore. 1959. The authors have written

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Topometrie Cranio-Encephalique chez L'homme(Cranio-Cerebral Topometry in Man). By A. Delmasand B. Pertuiset. (Pp. 436; 121 figures, 187 sectionaldrawings and photographs. £14.) Oxford: BlackwellScientific Publications; Paris: Masson et Cie. 1959.

This is a beautifully produced volume designed to aidthe stereotaxic worker in his search for the location inspace of intracerebral structures. This problem isrendered more difficult by the individual variation inthese structures. Correlation between the location ofsubcortical structures and the cephalic index are pre-sented, determining the spatial limits of any givenindividual structure in relation to standard cerebralplanes. The limits can be derived from either graphs orequations given in the book, based upon statisticalanalysis of measurements of 21 subcortical structures in14 subjects. The authors note, and one would agree, thatit is surprising that meaningful conclusions can bedrawn from a study of such a small series, but the validityof the deductions is based on Fisher's work on theprobabilities of small series analysis. The book in addi-tion contains a useful atlas of drawn and photographedcerebral sections. A short review of the statistical theoryupon which the work is based is helpful, and there is auseful anatomical catalogue and alphabetical index ofanatomical structures. The work is particularly valuableas it is for general purposes and not designed for usewith any one particular stereoencephalotome. The textis in both French and English.

L'Angiographie Cer6brale. By Joel Bonnal andJacques Legr6; Foreword by Prof. J.-E. Paillas. (Pp. 254;223 figures.) Paris: Masson et Cie. 1958.

There are not many textbooks on this subject andBonnal, a neurosurgeon, and Legr6, a radiologist, bothfrom Marseilles, have covered the field well. The illus-trations and line drawings are of a high quality, but it isunfortunate that all the radiographs are positives.However, this practice is by no means confined to Frenchpublications.

After introducing the subject by describing thetechnique, indications, and dangers of angiography, theauthors outline the normal angiographic appearances,both of the carotid and vertebral trees. This is followedby the largest chapter, which is devoted to neoplasms.The other chapters concern aneurysms and angiomas,obliterative lesions of the main vessels, and finally a fewmiscellaneous conditions.One is a little shocked by the illustrations in the

chapter on technique. It seems that the protection ofthe operator and his assistants from ionizing radiationconsists only in the use of a long connecting systembetween the injecting syringe and the intra-arterial

needle. There is no suggestion of using lead-rubber pro-tective screens.The bibliography is adequate but not exhaustive. It

is gratifying to find work quoted from a number ofcountries, but the large majority of references are con-tinental European.The book is to be recommended as one of the best of

the recent publications on cerebral angiography.

Temporal Lobe Epilepsy. A colloquium presentedunder the auspices of the U.S. National Institutes ofHealth, 1957. Edited by Maitland Baldwin and PearceBailey. (Pp. xiii + 581; illustrated. £5 17s. 6d.) Oxford:Blackwell Scientific Publications; Springfield, Illinois:Charles C. Thomas. 1958.

This monograph contains the reports and discussionsof the Second Intemational Colloquium on TemporalLobe Epilepsy held in 1957 at the U.S. National Institutesof Health, Bethesda, Maryland, under the leadership ofEarl Walker and Henri Gastaut. It follows on the reportsin the Acta Medica Belgica of the first colloquium whichwas held at Marseilles in 1954. Many contributors whoare among the leaders in this field in north and southAmerica and in Europe have taken part, and the volumeconsists of some 33 separate papers with the subsequentdiscussions. It has been arranged in four parts startingwith the neurophysiological and electrophysiologicalaspects, and thence progressing through neuropatho-logy and neurochemistry before coming to the surgicalaspects. The final section deals with the clinical andpsychological effects of temporal lobe ablations both inman and in animals. Most of the reports are short andseveral are excellent, but it is inevitable that some papersoverlap and that contrary views are given. Still, themonograph contains such a wealth of information thatit is likely to be a reference book for those interested inepilepsy. The aspects in which the information is some-what sparse concem the historical development of theconcept of temporal lobe epilepsy, its treatment by anti-convulsant drugs and other medical regimes, and itsimportance in psychiatric practice.

Chronic Subdural Hematoma. By Ragnar Nordlie.(Pp. 164; 24 figures.) Oslo: Johan Grundt TanumForlag. 1958.

This short monograph brings up for discussion theproblems in the recognition and management of chronicsubdural haematomas. It follows the Scandinaviancustom of taking some 52 personal cases (43 chronic andnine acute subdural haematomas), and comparing theirsymptoms, diagnosis, and treatment with views expressedin the literature. The author propounds the viewthat his condition should not remain undiagnosed only

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to be disclosed at some cranial exploration. Insteadby a careful analysis of the symptoms supplemented byradiological examination, and in particular by carotidarteriography, all these lesions should be disclosed beforeoperation, so that operation itself becomes definitivetreatment and not an exploratory procedure. The authordeals chiefly with chronic subdural haematomas inadults but also touches on haematomas of infancy. Hegives a comprehensive survey of the literature, and drawsour attention again to the condition without adding muchnew information.

Degenerescence HWpato-Lenticulaire. By GeorgesBoudin and Bernard Pepin. (Pp. 250; 46 figures. Fr.frs. 3,500.-.) Paris: Masson et Cie. 1959.

This short monograph on Kinnier-Wilson's diseaseprovides a useful survey of the clinical manifestationsof the condition. The authors review fully both theneurological and other findings in the disease. Theysummarize but do not critically assess modern knowledgeof the biochemical background presumed to be the causeof the condition-the abnormalities of copper meta-bolism as represented by a reduced or absent copper-carrying protein, caeruloplasmin. They also mentiontreatment with B.A.L., chelating agents, and penicillamineand en passant by transfusion of the missing caerulo-plasmin. None seems to have any but a temporary effect.The value of the book is in bringing together and review-ing the scattered literature both old and new on thissubject and in comparing it with the author's own clinicalexperience of the disease.

Pain, 2nd ed. By Harold Wolff and Stewart Wolf.(Pp. 121; 20 figures. 32s. 6d.) Oxford: BlackwellScientific Publications. 1959.

This short book, now in its second edition, is devotedmainly to a brief consideration of the anatomical andphysiological background of pain. This it does reason-ably well-especially in discussing the mechanism ofheadache, a subject on which the authors have donemuch original work. "Thalamic" or "central" pain is animportant entity clinically because it is both distressingand intractable: but neither its description nor itspossible physiological background are well covered.The description of referred pain is adequate but itspossible mechanism is hardly discussed. The section onmanagement of pain is rather disappointing: though thestudent can derive for himself some aspects of treatmentfrom the anatomical and physiological considerationsmentioned, little direct help is given to the clinician whohas to deal with these cases.

Neuroftalmologia. By P. Ottonello and G. W.Vassura. (Pp. 611; 149 figures. Lira 15,000.-.) Bologna:Cappelli Editore. 1959.The authors have written this book in two parts. In

the first each chapter is devoted to one aspect of neuro-ophthalmology, visual fields, ocular movements, nystag-mus, the pupils, the sensory innervation, and methods ofexamination. In the second part the effects on the eye of

lesions in various parts of the nervous system and byvarious types of disorder are discussed. The whole isliberally and clearly illustrated, with colour plates wherenecessary, and the presentation is clear. The printingand paper are very satisfactory, but the binding couldusefully be stronger.

Psychological Stress: Psychoanalytic and BehavioralStudies of Surgical Patients. By Irving L. Janis. (Pp.xiv + 439. 56s.) New York: John Wiley (London:Chapman & Hall). 1958.

In his introduction the author indicates how little weknow regarding objective anxiety compared with ourknowledge of neurotic anxiety. He then describesresearch he has conducted into effects of stress, thestressful situation being a surgical operation.

In the first half of the book the author describes anddiscusses the psychoanalytic sessions of a patient, who,in the course of psychoanalysis, had to have an operationon her leg. On the basis of these studies he puts forwarda number of hypotheses and propositions dealing withthe causes and consequences of various types ofemotionalreactions and adjustment mechanisms which are fre-quently activated when people are exposed to severeenvironmental dangers.The second half of the book consists of a study of 22

patients undergoing operations, and also a survey byquestionnaire of 150 Yale students regarding their exper-iences of operations they had had. Perhaps the mostobvious conclusion that the author draws is that "in-formed" patients, patients who have had the nature ofthe operation explained to them, have less fear than the"6uninformed". They are also less likely to becomeemotionally disturbed post-operatively, showing this bybreaking rules or getting angry. On the basis of theseand other findings advice is given on the psychologicalpreparation of patients for operation.

Geniale Menschen, 5th ed. By Ernst Kretschmer.(Pp. viii + 311. DM. 36.-.) Berlin-Gottingen-Heidel-berg: Springer Verlag. 1958.The author, well known for his psychiatric analysis

of the relationship of body type and character, hasinvestigated the biological laws, the motivations, andpersonality trends which might explain the creativepowers of outstanding personalities referred to as Genius.Kretschmer's biographical and psychoanalytical accountof famous politicians, poets, scientists, and musicians isfascinating and instructive and should attract psycho-logists, psychiatrists, and the general reader interested inbiographical sketches.

Personality Patterns of Psychiatrists: A Study ofMethods of Selecting Residents, Volumes I and It. ByRobert R. Holt and Lester Luborsky. (Pp. Vol. I, xiv +386; $7.50; Pp. Vol. II, xiv + 400, $4.00.) New York:Basic Books. Menninger Clinic Monograph SeriesNo. 13. 1958.

After the last war, there was a vast (and to judge fromthe data in these volumes, much needed) expansion of

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psychiatric services in the United States. This neces-sitated the training of large numbers of psychiatrists anda large proportion were trained at the Menninger Schoolof Psychiatry, said to be the largest training centre forpsychiatry in the world. The selection of applicants fortraining was made a research project to determine thequalities desirable in a psychiatrist. Applicants wereinterviewed and were given intelligence tests, projectiontests, and personality inventory tests. On the basis ofthese, attempts were made to ascertain the personalityqualities required in a psychiatrist.

All this is very salutary and such a basis of selectionmay ultimately be preferable to the somewhat haphazardmethods of selection used in this country. However, sofar as practice in this country is concerned, this bookcontributes little of value. The emphasis throughoutthe book is on the superiority of psychotherapy: thisattitude of the School must have played some part in theself selection of applicants. We read, for example, that ofthe 238 residents in the series, 22% sought and receivedpsychotherapeutic help, and an additional 43% soughttreatment but did not get it. Only 35% of the residentsapparently did not consider they needed psychotherapy.One must bear in mind that in this topsy-turvy world tobe receiving psychotherapy was to have a certain socialcachet. The attitude of the School is also revealedperhaps by the fact that the best residents (the steadyhighs) ended doing psychoanalysis: the poorest residents(the plodders and the incompetents) ended doing shocktherapy. Even more revealing are the errata. There are10 errata, seven of which consist in substituting "psycho-therapeutic" for "psychiatric". This observation isoffered gratis to psychopathologists of everyday life.

Recent"Progress in Psychiatry, Vol. 3 (Journal ofMental Science). Edited by G. W. T. H. Fleming and A.Walk. (Pp. 397. 42s.) London: J. & A. Churchill.1959.The third volume of "Recent Progress in Psychiatry",

although published in 1959, covers the quinquennium1950 to 1955. Despite the delay in publication, it is avaluable book to the psychiatric practitioner and post-graduate student. The period it covers was one of activedevelopment in several important fields; thus sectionsare devoted to subjects such as cybernetics, the organi-zation and connexions of the hippcampal and intra-laminar systems, and the enzy.natic basis of certainpsychoses. At the same time there are serious omissionsin the subjects represented. For instance, there is nochapter on the therapeutic use of drugs in psychiatry, afield in which major progress has been made in recentyears.The primary aim of most of the contributors has been

an impartial and wide coverage of the scope of theirsubjects. In a book of this kind, which is chiefly intendedas a source of reference, this is more i -nportant than anattempt at subjective evaluation, in which the writer isswayed by his own interests, giving an incomplete andpossibly seriously prejudiced account of the advancesmade in his subject. This choice of approach has beenfaced squarely by the "Professor of Psychiatry, Institute

of Psychiatry (Maudsley Hospital)" (sic) in the sectionentitled "Personality Tests: 1950-1955". ProfessorH. J. Eysenck admits frankly that the number of publica-tions germane to this subject is so great that "any attemptat even reasonably complete coverage of different aspectswould be quite impossible", and he reviews those trendswhich he himself considers to be the most important.The reader slightly acquainted with personality testing,a subject fraught with controversy, is left with the uneasyfeeling that perhaps no bread would have been better thanthe half loaf.

This book would have been better for more economyin editing. For example, the same subject matter iscovered competently and in considerable detail withrespect to mongolism in the chapters on psychiatricgenetics and mental deficiency. The individual authorscannot be blamed as in most cases they try to cover thefull range of the subject they have been asked to review,and they succeed in doing this concisely and with cleardefinition.Thus the chief faults of this book are deficiencies in

overall planning and editing. The individual contri-butions are, for the most part, comprehensive, instructive,and enjoyable to read. On the whole it gives a clearpicture of recent progress in the fields of psychiatryunder review, and with the excellent bibliographies itcontains it should prove an extremely useful book ofreference.

Amphetamine Psychosis (Maudsley MonographsNo. 5). By P. H. Connell. (Pp. 133; 25 figures, 22 tables,11 photographs. 21s.) London: Chapman and Hall.1958.Accounts of drug intoxications which mimic naturally-

occurring psychoses are always of interest, because oftheir physiological implications and because theyengender a little optimism over the prospects for therapyin the future. This study of the schizophrenia-like illnessproduced by amphetamine is concerned with 42 cases,and is a commendable addition to the Maudsley Mono-graphs. It is based on a thesis for the M.D. and it is bothinformative and readable. The description of the clinicalcondition is excellent. The frequency of this intoxicationmakes it important in differential diagnosis. The prognosisis good if the addiction and source of supply of the drugcan be discovered. The author produces a careful arrayof facts to show that amphetamine psychosis is not merelyan exposure of pre-existing but concealed mental disorder.He is also most careful not to draw conclusions about therelationship between the drug-induced and natural ill-nesses.The second part ofthe book is devoted to the evaluation

of analytical methods which have obviously been ofgreat service in confirming the diagnosis and in followingthe course of the addiction. There is no index.

Ataractic and Hallucinogenic Drugs in Psychiatry:Report of a Study Group. Wld Hlth Organ Tech. Rep.Ser. No. 152. (Pp. 72. 3s. 6d.) London: H.M.S.O.;Geneva: World Health Organization. 1958.

This report was prepared by a small international

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group of psychiatrists and others convened at Genevain November, 1957, under the Chairmanship of ProfessorE. Lindemann, of the Harvard Medical School. Theirterms of reference were to examine, in a preliminaryway, the present state of knowledge-and ignorance-regarding the mode of action and effects of psychotropicdrugs, and their current applications in psychiatry.Although admittedly preliminary, this report does

provide a useful and well-considered survey of a fieldin which it is particularly difficult for those standingoutside it to distinguish fact from fashion. The authorshave some interesting and useful things to sayabout the design and methodology of drug research andabout the importance of racial and cultural factors inrelation to psychiatric disorder and its treatment byphysical methods. They also stress the obvious need fora clear and well-defined terminology.

In spite of the competence with which the authors ofthis report have done their work, it is clear that a greatdeal more basic research in neuropharmacology willhave to be carried out before any very adequate rationalefor the use of psychotropic drugs in psychiatry is likelyto emerge.

Carbon Dioxide Therapy, 2nd ed. Edited by L. J.Meduna. (Pp. xii + 541; with figures and tables. £5 1Os.)Oxford: Blackwell Scientific Publications; Springfield,Illinois: Charles C. Thomas. 1958.Carbon dioxide therapy is used as a treatment for

psychoneurosis, and consists in making the patientrespire a gas containing a high proportion, say 30%, ofcarbon dioxide. This is continued until consciousness islost, and is repeated at intervals. This book, a col-laborative effort of members of the Carbon DioxideResearch Association, sets out to describe the theoryand technique of treatment, and the clinical, physio-logical, and psychological consequences of its use. Thetreatment was inspired by the success of physicalmeasures for the treatment of the psychoses. It seemedprobable to Dr. Meduna that physical factors thataffect the brain must also affect the mind (though he isdisinclined to distinguish too sharply between brain andmind) and he tried first with various concentrations ofcarbon dioxide. There is now a considerable bodyof psychiatrists employing this treatment, and many ofthem report their experiences with illustrative caserecords, though it is difficult to assess the results oftreatment in such patients without a prolonged controlledtrial.

Mental Deficiency: The Changing Outlook. Edited byAnn M. Clarke & A. D. B. Clarke. (Pp. xvi + 513;4 figures, 26 tables. 45s.) London: Methuen. 1958.

This book provides a most valuable record of recentresearch work on the factors which influence the develop-ment of mental deficiency. There is at present a greatvariety of specialists taking an interest in how the braindevelops, and those who are relatively ignorant of theimportant work by psychologists in this field will find thebook most valuable.

Special emphasis is laid on the importance of theenvironment in the early months of life, on the develop-

ment of intelligence, and of satisfactory behaviourpatterns. Most of the work described is of the greatestimportance from the point of view of education in itswidest sense, and the authors rightly stress the greatneed for research in this difficult field.

Mental Health Aspects of the Peaceful Uses of AtomicEnergy, Report by a Study Group. W.H.O. TechnicalReport Series, No. 151. (Pp. 53. 3s. 6d.) London:H.M. Stationery Office. 1958.

This report is interesting and entertaining: interestingas an illustration of how little can usefully be said onthe subject, entertaining for the verbiage used to fill thelacunae. No terms of reference are quoted for thestudy group producing the report. In its compilationthe members of the group would appear to have employedthe method of free association on the wording of thetitle. Opening with the unexceptionable if somewhatdiffuse statement:

"The history of mankind shows with what flexibilityand with how great a measure of success humanityhas adapted itself again and again to very radicalchanges in its living conditions" it concludes "But inthe long run the greatest hope of mental health in thefuture of the peaceful uses of atomic energy is theraising of a new generation which has learnt to live onterms with ignorance and uncertainty ...."

Before reaching this peroration, however, its 45 pagesare scattered with such important statements as "Thegeneral public of the whole world is a concept so vastthat an attempt to make generalizations would be of novalue", "Many people in government, and manyelected representatives, have a feeling that Pandora'sbox has been opened, and that anything can happennow", "in part, the authorities are in the same positionas the general public and, in part, have special problems,owing to the demands and insecurities of their position".

It is a pity this report was published. It will cause manyintelligent readers (medical and lay) to wonder how sucha potentially important subject can be treated with sucha wealth of flatulent platitudes: and such thoughts mayextend to the World Health Organization which in someof its activities has done and is doing much useful work.

Catechism Series: Mental Disorders, 5th ed. ByW. S. Dawson. (Pp. 68. 2s. 6d.) Edinburgh and London:E. & Livingstone. 1958.The Catechism series is well known to all students,

and the fifth edition of the booklet on psychiatry hasthe advantages and faults of its predecessors. The mainadvantage is that the book contains questions of a kindlikelyto be asked in vivas: the main fault is that the answersare not likely to satisfy examiners who have an unfor-tunate habit of putting supplementary questions. Forrevision purposes, however, this booklet is valuable.

Topics in Psychiatry. Edited by T. Ferguson Rodger,R. M. Mowbray, and J. R. Roy. (Pp. x + 265. 20s.)London: Cassell. 1958.

This book is an edited account of papers presented ata Specialist Conference in Psychiatry held in Glasgow

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in 1957. Topics discussed were schizophrenia, psychoso-matic medicine, tranquillizing drugs, mental deficiency,and biochemistry and genetics. The intention was toprovide a survey of some of the newer developments inthese fields and to stimulate a rapprochement betweendifferent viewpoints. In this the contributors havesucceeded admirably, and the book can be stronglyrecommended as containing much information regardingrecent advances in a palatable form. The standard ofthe contributions throughout is high and it would beinvidious to single out any for special commendation.The contributors were mainly from the west of Scotlandand this book illustrates the lively state of psychiatry inthis region.

Cure de Sommeil Collective et Psychotherapie deGroupe. By Henri Faure. (Pp. 272; 5 figures. Fr. frs.2.500.-.) Paris: Masson et Cie. 1958.The author describes a novel method of sleep treat-

ment or rather, prolonged narcosis. Patients are treatedin groups of five to seven for a period of three weeks.Narcosis is induced by barbiturates and chlorpromazine,the "cocktail" being administered thrice daily so thatthere are three periods of sleep. Between these periodsthere are intervals of two hours or so when patientshave their meals and toilet and medical procedures arecarried out. Also during these periods, the doctor whois in charge of the group encourages them to talk aboutthemselves, their dreams, and their thoughts. Thepatients also receive individual psychotherapy.

After describing the practical details of the treatment,the author discusses the dreams and thoughts expressedby the patients, the group and individual psychotherapywhich the patients receive, and the value of this methodas a treatment and as a means of psychological investi-gation of the individual patients.The results of treatment in 142 patients are given.

Except for schizophrenia where none of 18 patients washelped, the results are comparable with those obtainedby more orthodox methods and the treatment is perhapsmore economical of medical man-power than mostothers.

Das Hirngeschlidigte Kind: Psychologie und Diag-nostik. Eine experimentelle Untersuchung. By Karl-Hermann Wewetzer. (Pp. viii + 117; 9 figures. DM 19.80.) Stuttgart: Georg Thieme. 1959.

This book reports an investigation in which systematic,standard, psychological tests were applied to a group ofchildren with varied brain pathology and to a similarnumber of healthy individuals matched in age andgeneral intelligence to the experimental group. Theobject seems to have been less the elucidation of func-tional disturbances attendant on any particular type ofcerebral pathology than the development of a techniqueof diagnosis differential as between organic brain damageand other causes of educational and social shortcomingsin children. The tests employed range from those familiarin British and American practice such as the Binet,Bender-Gestalt, and Koh's block, to the Strauss and

Kephart character appraisal. Considerable industry andcare is displayed in the statistical treatment of the results,which is pressed as far as factor analysis. But perhapsthe most interesting conclusion is that, while in "brain-healthy" children no particular relation subsists betweenintellectual and affective features of their test behaviour,in those with cerebral pathology there is a markedconnexion between these two aspects. The author'sattribution of this to a disturbance of "Grundfunktion"may or may not be viable. But the finding itself perhapsmerits the attention of anyone who is content to treatmotivation as a footnote to intellectual performance.

Personality Change and Development as Measured bythe Projective Techniques. By Molly Harrower. (Pp.383; heavily illustrated. $10.00.) New York andLondon: Grune and Stratton. 1958.

Projective techniques have an insecure yet tenacioushold on the skirts of applied psychology. The attractiveassumptions on which they are based, and the perennialdemand for some means of recording and delineatingpersonality ensure their widespread use but cannotensure acceptance of their validity. The present studyis by one of the most prominent and experienced workersin this field. Dr. Harrower has accumulated during thelast 15 years the responses of some 4,000 subjects to acombination of projective tests which include theRorschach, Szondi, thematic apperception, sentence-completion, and "most unpleasant concept" tests. Thefindings obtained on more than one occasion wereevaluated in respect of each subject's productivity,relation to reality, thought content, constructive fantasy,anxiety, and intelligence level.The investigation was designed to ascertain how far

projective test findings mirror clinically detectablechanges, and whether they differentiate between im-provement brought about by psychological treatmentand improvement that occurs without such intervention.The answers, which were provided by the evidence herepresented in painstaking detail, amount to a weak andunimpressive "Yes" to the first question, and a fairlydefinite "No" to the second.

A Textbook in Rorschach Test Diagnosis. By EwaldBohm. Translated by Anne G. Beck and Samuel J.Beck. (Pp. xi + 322. $7.75.) New York: Grune andStratton. 1958.

Devised in Switzerland and widely adopted throughoutthe world, the Rorschach test attained its maximumpopularity in the United States, where it has also sufferedits sharpest decline. It is, however, still much employedby clinicians, and this manual reviews in a systematicway the considerable volume of work on the Rorschachtest published in European countries. The Scandinavianpsychiatric literature is particularly well represented.After a brief introduction the technique of administrationand scoring is fully described: then comes the largestpart of the book, which deals with interpretation. As inmost Rorschach publications, the weakest feature is inthe attempt at impartial assessment of the test's power

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BOOK REVIEWS

to delineate personality and to differentiate varieties ofmental disorder. As a convenient guide to Europeanstudies, this book supplements usefully the familiartexts by Klopfer and Kelley, Bockner and Halpern, andBeck (the translator of the present work). It is welltranslated.

Symposia on Child and Juvenile Delinquency (presentedat the American Orthopsychiatric Association). Editedby Benjamin Karpman. (Pp. 364 + Index; illustrated.$10.00.) Washington: Psychodynamics MonographSeries. 1959.From 1949 to 1953 Dr. Karpman arranged for a

symposium on juvenile delinquency to be held each yearat the Annual Meeting of the American OrthopsychiatricAssociation. The proceedings, previously reported withsome curtailment in the journal of the Association, arenow collected and published in full. They make a largeand wordy book, profusely illustrated with very crudedrawings, which faithfully reflects the mixture of con-fidence and ignorance that unfortunately still charac-terizes the approach by child psychiatrists to the alarmingproblems of juvenile delinquency. The extent to whichpsychopathic personality can be held responsible forchildren's misconduct is a recurring theme in the book:the discussions of it throw disconcerting light on thepossible outcome of those compulsory measures fordealing with psychopathic adolescents which the newMental Health Act now provides in Great Britain.

Hysterie, Reflex und Instinkt, 6th ed. By ErnstKretschmer. (Pp. viii + 148, DM 12.80.) Stuttgart:Georg Thieme. 1958.The last edition of this book appeared in 1947. Little

has been learnt about hysteria in the intervening years,and the changes in this latest edition are correspondinglyfew. A case history is introduced to illustrate what theauthor calls a "cascade effect" in which the stimulus ofan emotional shock spreads outward and releases a seriesof severe changes of a somatic as well as a psychologicalnature. Imu, a condition probably identical with Latah,is described; and a short note added on the way thevegetative nervous system is affected by that voluntaryincrease in reflex responses which Kretschmer postulatesin hysteria. The book exemplifies the curiously indeter-minate nature of clinical conceptions of hysteria and itspsychopathology.

Stuttering: A Psychodynamic Approach to Its Under-standing and Treatment. By Dominick A. Barbara.(Pp. 255. 25s.) London: Hutchinson. 1958.

Dr. Barbara, who is himself a stutterer, is a devotedadherent of the psychoanalytic theory and practicedeveloped by the late Dr. Karen Horney. His book is asustained explanation of stuttering in terms of Dr.Horney's theory of neurosis. His considerable ex-perience of treating this irksome handicap is not turnedto full account, as only one chapter, out of the 17 thatmake up the book, is concerned directly with treatment,

and the author here absolves himself from detaileddescription of methods. He does not give any dataenabling the reader to judge the success of treatmentcarried out along the broad lines he advocates, and allin all his book is disappointingly vague.

Communication, Organization and Science. By JeromeRothenstein; Foreword by C. A. Muses. (Pp. xcvi +110. $3.50). Indian Hills, Colorado: The Falcon'sWing Press. 1958.

This is a book for physicists interested in cyberneticsand the theory of communication. Philosophical,psychological, and linguistic questions are discussed ina speculative way, and particular attention paid to theconcept of entropy. Two-fifths of the book is taken upwith an obscurely written foreword by Dr. Muses.

BOOKS RECEIVED(Review in a later issue is not precluded by notice here of books

received.)

A Short History of Psychiatry [translated from theGerman by Sulammith Wolff]. By Erwin H. Acker-knecht. (Pp. xi + 98; 9 photographs. 25s.) London:Hafner Publishing Co. 1959.Va Prospectus Research in Aging. Veterans Adminis-

tration 1959. (Pp. v + 125; 48 figures. $1.50.)Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office. 1959.The Pathology of Tumours of the Nervous System.

By Dorothy S. Russell and L. J. Rubinstein, with achapter on "Tissue Culture in Relation to Tumours ofthe Nervous System" by C. E. Lumsden. (Pp. iii + 318;286 figures. 70s.) London: Edward Arnold. 1959.Anatomy of the Human Body. By R. D. Lockhart, G. F.

Hamilton, and F. W. Fyfe. (Pp. ix + 697; 965 figures.105s.) London: Faber and Faber. 1959.A Textbook of Neurology, 2nd edition revised. By

H. Houston Merritt. (Pp. 765; 182 figures + 123 tables.93s. 6d.) London: Henry Kimpton. 1959.

Enjoy Work and Get Fun Out of Life. By 0. A.Battista. (Pp. xxi + 229. 7s. 6d.) Kingswood, Surrey:Elliot Right Way Books. 1959.

Klinik und Therapie Symptomatischer Anfallsleiden.By K. Nittner and H. W. Steinmann, and EEG undHirntrauma. By H. W. Steinmann; Foreword by Prof.Dr. W. Tonnis. (Pp. viii + 175; 68 figures. DM 36.80.)Stuttgart: Georg Thieme. 1959.The Degenerative Back and Its Differential Diagnosis.

By P. R. M. J. Hanraets. (Pp. xi + 690; 315 figures, 12in colour. 105s.) London: D. Van Nostrand. 1959.

Family and Class Dynamics in Mental Illness. ByJerome K. Meyers and Bertram H. Roberts. (Pp. xi +295. 56s.) London: Chapman and Hall; New York:John Wiley. 1959.

Sympathectomy. An Anatomical and PhysiologicalStudy with Clinical Applications. By P. A. G. Monro.(Pp. xx + 290; 84 figures. 75s.) London: OxfordUniversity Press. 1959.

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