2
244 PSYCHOSOMATICS Book Reviews MAY-JUNE OLIGOPHRENIA. MENTAL DEFICIENCY IN CHILDREN. M. S. Pevzner. Preface by J. Tiz· ard. New York: The International Behavioral Sciences Series edited by Joseph Wortis, M.D. Consultants Bureau. 1961. Pp. xiii & 406. $15.00. This book is a good illustration of the differ- ences in psycho-physiological approach between American and the Soviet medicine. The author presents her observations on clinical and experi- mental studies in mental deficiency covering a number of years of careful research. The West- ern attitude of measuring the degree of defi- ciency and of classifying it according to etiology is rejected. The author is primarily preoccupied with disturbances of some particular cerebral functions. Such functions in turn are analyzed in terms of Pavlovian neuro-physiology. Reading this presentation may open new and stimulating vistas for the Western understand- ing of mental deficiency. The book is filled with meticulous clinical observations; a number of ingenious techniques to test various mental func- tions may be found here. This material may be of value for retraining and rehabilitation of men- tal defectives and may assist, according to the claim of the author, in a more precise differential diagnosis. A new classification of mental defi- ciency is suggested with different groups based on differences in psycho-physiological impair- ment. In the first group, resulting from a diffuse le- sion of the cerebral cortex, the lack of "mobil- ity" or "inertia" of the psychological processes presents as the main clinical ,feature. The sec- ond type is linked with a diffuse cortical lesion accompanied by deficiency in cerebral circulation resulting in various degrees of hydrocephalus. The same picture of psychophysiological immo- bility is observed here and also accompanied, to use Pavlovian terminology, by disturbance of the balance between cerebral excitation and inhibi- tion. The author illustrates her principle with some typical cases where one or the other psy- chopathological pattern is prevalent. The third form is believed to depend on diffuse pathology of the cortex as well as the sub-cortical areas re- sponsible for cerebral associations. Psycho-motor disorders would be prominent in this type and they would clinically present themselves as dis- turbance of volition and emotionlll control. The author calls such abnormalities the "disturbed emotional-volitional functions" and believes that it may be difficult to distinguish this type of oligophrenia from some cases of childhood schiz- ophrenia, A number of relevant histories are presented in detail. Although the methodology and conclu- sions advanced in this work may stir up conSid- erable criticism among American psychiatric scientists, this book will still provide challeng- ing and worthwhile reading. . Victor Szyrynski, M.D., Ph.D. CEREBRAL APOPLEXY. Philip Schwartz, M.D. Springfield, III.: C. C. Thomas, 1961. This slim, erudite book will send many a reader back to his neuroanatomy text and medi- . cal dictionary. The author, a pathologist, di- vides apoplexy into three types: embolic, ar- teriosclerotic and hypertensive. An extensive description of the distinctive pathologic lesions is followed by the development of "suggestions" as to their cause and pathogenesis. Emphasis is placed on neurogenic circulatory changes and vasomotor sensitivity. The concept of vascular tears is discredited. Dr. Schwartz has obViously done voluminous reading and painstaking re- search. Much historical material is included. The author's style is, at times, a bit heavy and the numerous references and footnotes some- what distracting, The illustrations are beauti- fully clear and the main points are well empha- sized. This book will appeal primarily to the pathologist and neurologist. The general prac- titioner may find it difficult reading but well worth the effort! Leonard J. Schiff, M.D. MIND AND CIVILIZATION: CONTROL OF THE MIND. Edited by S. M. Farber and Roger H. L. Wilson. McGraw-Hili, N. Y., 1961. Pp. 340, $6.50. This book is based upon a Symposium held at the University of California, San Francisco Med- ical Center in January 1961. Twenty-siX emi- nent men, representing the various disciplines of science, psychology, sociology, history, religion, mass communication and political science were gathered together to pool and focus their knowl- edge and experience toward a·deeper understand- ing of the forces acting on the human mind. The Symposium was sponsored by the Schering Foun- dation and Schering Corporation. Various papers and panel discussions consid- ered the physiological and biochemical aspects of brain activity, the influence of drugs,the roles of society, the impact of technology as well as restriction and freedom of the mind. Discussions include the role of DNA and RNA, the po- tentialities. of brain washing, the possibilities of computing machines competing with man, and 244 PSYCHOSOMATICS Book Reviews MAY-JUNE OLIGOPHRENIA. MENTAL DEFICIENCY IN CHILDREN. M. S. Pevzner. Preface by J. Tiz· ard. New York: The International Behavioral Sciences Series edited by Joseph Wortis, M.D. Consultants Bureau. 1961. Pp. xiii & 406. $15.00. This book is a good illustration of the differ- ences in psycho-physiological approach between American and the Soviet medicine. The author presents her observations on clinical and experi- mental studies in mental deficiency covering a number of years of careful research. The West- ern attitude of measuring the degree of defi- ciency and of classifying it according to etiology is rejected. The author is primarily preoccupied with disturbances of some particular cerebral functions. Such functions in turn are analyzed in terms of Pavlovian neuro-physiology. Reading this presentation may open new and stimulating vistas for the Western understand- ing of mental deficiency. The book is filled with meticulous clinical observations; a number of ingenious techniques to test various mental func- tions may be found here. This material may be of value for retraining and rehabilitation of men- tal defectives and may assist, according to the claim of the author, in a more precise differential diagnosis. A new classification of mental defi- ciency is suggested with different groups based on differences in psycho-physiological impair- ment. In the first group, resulting from a diffuse le- sion of the cerebral cortex, the lack of "mobil- ity" or "inertia" of the psychological processes presents as the main clinical ,feature. The sec- ond type is linked with a diffuse cortical lesion accompanied by deficiency in cerebral circulation resulting in various degrees of hydrocephalus. The same picture of psychophysiological immo- bility is observed here and also accompanied, to use Pavlovian terminology, by disturbance of the balance between cerebral excitation and inhibi- tion. The author illustrates her principle with some typical cases where one or the other psy- chopathological pattern is prevalent. The third form is believed to depend on diffuse pathology of the cortex as well as the sub-cortical areas re- sponsible for cerebral associations. Psycho-motor disorders would be prominent in this type and they would clinically present themselves as dis- turbance of volition and emotionlll control. The author calls such abnormalities the "disturbed emotional-volitional functions" and believes that it may be difficult to distinguish this type of oligophrenia from some cases of childhood schiz- ophrenia, A number of relevant histories are presented in detail. Although the methodology and conclu- sions advanced in this work may stir up conSid- erable criticism among American psychiatric scientists, this book will still provide challeng- ing and worthwhile reading. . Victor Szyrynski, M.D., Ph.D. CEREBRAL APOPLEXY. Philip Schwartz, M.D. Springfield, III.: C. C. Thomas, 1961. This slim, erudite book will send many a reader back to his neuroanatomy text and medi- . cal dictionary. The author, a pathologist, di- vides apoplexy into three types: embolic, ar- teriosclerotic and hypertensive. An extensive description of the distinctive pathologic lesions is followed by the development of "suggestions" as to their cause and pathogenesis. Emphasis is placed on neurogenic circulatory changes and vasomotor sensitivity. The concept of vascular tears is discredited. Dr. Schwartz has obViously done voluminous reading and painstaking re- search. Much historical material is included. The author's style is, at times, a bit heavy and the numerous references and footnotes some- what distracting, The illustrations are beauti- fully clear and the main points are well empha- sized. This book will appeal primarily to the pathologist and neurologist. The general prac- titioner may find it difficult reading but well worth the effort! Leonard J. Schiff, M.D. MIND AND CIVILIZATION: CONTROL OF THE MIND. Edited by S. M. Farber and Roger H. L. Wilson. McGraw-Hili, N. Y., 1961. Pp. 340, $6.50. This book is based upon a Symposium held at the University of California, San Francisco Med- ical Center in January 1961. Twenty-siX emi- nent men, representing the various disciplines of science, psychology, sociology, history, religion, mass communication and political science were gathered together to pool and focus their knowl- edge and experience toward a·deeper understand- ing of the forces acting on the human mind. The Symposium was sponsored by the Schering Foun- dation and Schering Corporation. Various papers and panel discussions consid- ered the physiological and biochemical aspects of brain activity, the influence of drugs,the roles of society, the impact of technology as well as restriction and freedom of the mind. Discussions include the role of DNA and RNA, the po- tentialities. of brain washing, the possibilities of computing machines competing with man, and

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Page 1: Mind and Civilization: Control of the Mind

244 PSYCHOSOMATICS

Book Reviews

MAY-JUNE

OLIGOPHRENIA. MENTAL DEFICIENCY INCHILDREN. M. S. Pevzner. Preface by J. Tiz·ard. New York: The International BehavioralSciences Series edited by Joseph Wortis, M.D.Consultants Bureau. 1961. Pp. xiii & 406. $15.00.This book is a good illustration of the differ-

ences in psycho-physiological approach betweenAmerican and the Soviet medicine. The authorpresents her observations on clinical and experi­mental studies in mental deficiency covering anumber of years of careful research. The West­ern attitude of measuring the degree of defi­ciency and of classifying it according to etiologyis rejected. The author is primarily preoccupiedwith disturbances of some particular cerebralfunctions. Such functions in turn are analyzedin terms of Pavlovian neuro-physiology.

Reading this presentation may open new andstimulating vistas for the Western understand­ing of mental deficiency. The book is filled withmeticulous clinical observations; a number ofingenious techniques to test various mental func­tions may be found here. This material may beof value for retraining and rehabilitation of men­tal defectives and may assist, according to theclaim of the author, in a more precise differentialdiagnosis. A new classification of mental defi­ciency is suggested with different groups basedon differences in psycho-physiological impair­ment.

In the first group, resulting from a diffuse le­sion of the cerebral cortex, the lack of "mobil­ity" or "inertia" of the psychological processespresents as the main clinical ,feature. The sec­ond type is linked with a diffuse cortical lesionaccompanied by deficiency in cerebral circulationresulting in various degrees of hydrocephalus.The same picture of psychophysiological immo­bility is observed here and also accompanied, touse Pavlovian terminology, by disturbance of thebalance between cerebral excitation and inhibi­tion. The author illustrates her principle withsome typical cases where one or the other psy­chopathological pattern is prevalent. The thirdform is believed to depend on diffuse pathologyof the cortex as well as the sub-cortical areas re­sponsible for cerebral associations. Psycho-motordisorders would be prominent in this type andthey would clinically present themselves as dis­turbance of volition and emotionlll control. Theauthor calls such abnormalities the "disturbedemotional-volitional functions" and believes thatit may be difficult to distinguish this type ofoligophrenia from some cases of childhood schiz­ophrenia,

A number of relevant histories are presented

in detail. Although the methodology and conclu­sions advanced in this work may stir up conSid­erable criticism among American psychiatricscientists, this book will still provide challeng-ing and worthwhile reading. .

Victor Szyrynski, M.D., Ph.D.

CEREBRAL APOPLEXY. Philip Schwartz, M.D.Springfield, III.: C. C. Thomas, 1961.

This slim, erudite book will send many areader back to his neuroanatomy text and medi- .cal dictionary. The author, a pathologist, di­vides apoplexy into three types: embolic, ar­teriosclerotic and hypertensive. An extensivedescription of the distinctive pathologic lesionsis followed by the development of "suggestions"as to their cause and pathogenesis. Emphasisis placed on neurogenic circulatory changes andvasomotor sensitivity. The concept of vasculartears is discredited. Dr. Schwartz has obViouslydone voluminous reading and painstaking re­search. Much historical material is included.The author's style is, at times, a bit heavy andthe numerous references and footnotes some­what distracting, The illustrations are beauti­fully clear and the main points are well empha­sized. This book will appeal primarily to thepathologist and neurologist. The general prac­titioner may find it difficult reading but wellworth the effort!

Leonard J. Schiff, M.D.

MIND AND CIVILIZATION: CONTROL OF THEMIND. Edited by S. M. Farber and Roger H. L.Wilson. McGraw-Hili, N. Y., 1961. Pp. 340,$6.50.

This book is based upon a Symposium held atthe University of California, San Francisco Med­ical Center in January 1961. Twenty-siX emi­nent men, representing the various disciplines ofscience, psychology, sociology, history, religion,mass communication and political science weregathered together to pool and focus their knowl­edge and experience toward a·deeper understand­ing of the forces acting on the human mind. TheSymposium was sponsored by the Schering Foun­dation and Schering Corporation.

Various papers and panel discussions consid­ered the physiological and biochemical aspectsof brain activity, the influence of drugs,the rolesof society, the impact of technology as well asrestriction and freedom of the mind. Discussionsinclude the role of DNA and RNA, the po­tentialities.of brain washing, the possibilities ofcomputing machines competing with man, and

244 PSYCHOSOMATICS

Book Reviews

MAY-JUNE

OLIGOPHRENIA. MENTAL DEFICIENCY INCHILDREN. M. S. Pevzner. Preface by J. Tiz·ard. New York: The International BehavioralSciences Series edited by Joseph Wortis, M.D.Consultants Bureau. 1961. Pp. xiii & 406. $15.00.This book is a good illustration of the differ-

ences in psycho-physiological approach betweenAmerican and the Soviet medicine. The authorpresents her observations on clinical and experi­mental studies in mental deficiency covering anumber of years of careful research. The West­ern attitude of measuring the degree of defi­ciency and of classifying it according to etiologyis rejected. The author is primarily preoccupiedwith disturbances of some particular cerebralfunctions. Such functions in turn are analyzedin terms of Pavlovian neuro-physiology.

Reading this presentation may open new andstimulating vistas for the Western understand­ing of mental deficiency. The book is filled withmeticulous clinical observations; a number ofingenious techniques to test various mental func­tions may be found here. This material may beof value for retraining and rehabilitation of men­tal defectives and may assist, according to theclaim of the author, in a more precise differentialdiagnosis. A new classification of mental defi­ciency is suggested with different groups basedon differences in psycho-physiological impair­ment.

In the first group, resulting from a diffuse le­sion of the cerebral cortex, the lack of "mobil­ity" or "inertia" of the psychological processespresents as the main clinical ,feature. The sec­ond type is linked with a diffuse cortical lesionaccompanied by deficiency in cerebral circulationresulting in various degrees of hydrocephalus.The same picture of psychophysiological immo­bility is observed here and also accompanied, touse Pavlovian terminology, by disturbance of thebalance between cerebral excitation and inhibi­tion. The author illustrates her principle withsome typical cases where one or the other psy­chopathological pattern is prevalent. The thirdform is believed to depend on diffuse pathologyof the cortex as well as the sub-cortical areas re­sponsible for cerebral associations. Psycho-motordisorders would be prominent in this type andthey would clinically present themselves as dis­turbance of volition and emotionlll control. Theauthor calls such abnormalities the "disturbedemotional-volitional functions" and believes thatit may be difficult to distinguish this type ofoligophrenia from some cases of childhood schiz­ophrenia,

A number of relevant histories are presented

in detail. Although the methodology and conclu­sions advanced in this work may stir up conSid­erable criticism among American psychiatricscientists, this book will still provide challeng-ing and worthwhile reading. .

Victor Szyrynski, M.D., Ph.D.

CEREBRAL APOPLEXY. Philip Schwartz, M.D.Springfield, III.: C. C. Thomas, 1961.

This slim, erudite book will send many areader back to his neuroanatomy text and medi- .cal dictionary. The author, a pathologist, di­vides apoplexy into three types: embolic, ar­teriosclerotic and hypertensive. An extensivedescription of the distinctive pathologic lesionsis followed by the development of "suggestions"as to their cause and pathogenesis. Emphasisis placed on neurogenic circulatory changes andvasomotor sensitivity. The concept of vasculartears is discredited. Dr. Schwartz has obViouslydone voluminous reading and painstaking re­search. Much historical material is included.The author's style is, at times, a bit heavy andthe numerous references and footnotes some­what distracting, The illustrations are beauti­fully clear and the main points are well empha­sized. This book will appeal primarily to thepathologist and neurologist. The general prac­titioner may find it difficult reading but wellworth the effort!

Leonard J. Schiff, M.D.

MIND AND CIVILIZATION: CONTROL OF THEMIND. Edited by S. M. Farber and Roger H. L.Wilson. McGraw-Hili, N. Y., 1961. Pp. 340,$6.50.

This book is based upon a Symposium held atthe University of California, San Francisco Med­ical Center in January 1961. Twenty-siX emi­nent men, representing the various disciplines ofscience, psychology, sociology, history, religion,mass communication and political science weregathered together to pool and focus their knowl­edge and experience toward a·deeper understand­ing of the forces acting on the human mind. TheSymposium was sponsored by the Schering Foun­dation and Schering Corporation.

Various papers and panel discussions consid­ered the physiological and biochemical aspectsof brain activity, the influence of drugs,the rolesof society, the impact of technology as well asrestriction and freedom of the mind. Discussionsinclude the role of DNA and RNA, the po­tentialities.of brain washing, the possibilities ofcomputing machines competing with man, and

Page 2: Mind and Civilization: Control of the Mind

1962 PSYCHOSOMATICS 245

the effects of relative freedom or lack of free­dom under communism as compared to westernideology.

An excellent discussion on neurophysiology byWilder Penfield is included; other unusual papersdeal with the role of experience (D. O. Hebb),human potentialities (Aldous Huxley), psycho­pharmacology (S. S. Kety, James G. Miller, J. O.Cole).

Panel discussions, representing the widest pos­sible range of disciplines, cover many fascinatingareas. The final one dealt with a) the rationalefor the symposium, b) the desirability of avoid­ing confusion between the cure of illness bydrugs and manipulation of the normal person,c) the "vulgarization" of psychiatric knowledge,and d) Freud's psychoanalytic approach. Pro­fessors of sociology, psychiatry and political sci­ence participated-'-and did communicate not onlywith each other but with a most critical andquestioning audience.

The Schering Corporation is to be congratu­lated on making this unusual symposium possible.

W.D.

THE PSYCHOLOGY OF INSANITY by BernardHart. Cambridge. Univ. Press. 1st paperbacked. 1962. 127 pages. $1.25 (1st Ed. 1912).

This book, first published in 1912, attemptsto present the subject matter in a simple, sys­tematic, manner. The general principles enun­ciated are those of Freud, Jung, Janet, Krafft­Ebing and lastly Trotter whose two papers on"Herd Instinct" are cited.

A brief history of mental disorder is presented,followed by a concept of mental disorder. Thephenomena are explained through the mentalmechanisms of dissociation, complexes, conflict,regression, repression, projection and phantasy,with a final summation of the significance of con­flict. The author insists that brain and physiol­ogy are different from mind and psychology andthat a different language or terminology mustbe used for each. "The psychological laws mustcontain no physiological terms and the physio­logical laws must contain no psychologicalterms."

Carefully, with adequate description, and withclinical examples, the mental mechanisms areevolved and discussed. Each mechanism is shownto be important and a relative degree of impor­tance is established. Even though repression isshown to be the most used and most importantmechanism, dissociation becomes a key mecha­nism in the authors dogmatic schema. The fol­lOWing quotes not only illustrates this but helpsset the scene for the final statement:

"The delusions of the insane resemble many ofthe beliefs and opinions held by the sane. . . . In

other respects, however, they differ to such anextent that it is generally easy to decide towhich of the two groups a given symptom mustbe assigned. The beliefs of the sane, whethertrue or false, are generally supported by theopinion of a class, and are the result of the op­eration of herd instinct. The delusions of theinsane, on the other hand, are not so supported,but are individual aberrations dependent uponfactors working in direct opposition to herd in­stinct. In the insane, disssociation has been car­ried to a degree which is incompatible with nor­mal thought on behavior, and mental processesare allowed to pursue their course altogether un­disturbed by the contradictions presented by thefacts of experience. . . . In phantasy the crea­tions of an idle fancy have become the delusionsof insanity. A further degree of dissociation hasbeen attained. . . . The fundamental mechanismwhich underlies the vast group of insanities con­sists essentially in a dissociation of the herd in­stincts. . . . The problem is how to obviate theunderlying dissociation ... it would be necessaryto deal with the conflict which produced it. Theprimitive instincts cannot be altered, and the at­tack must be directed against the traditions andcodes which obtain their force from the opera­tion of the herd instinct-the ways in which thesetraditions and codes act upon the mind of thepatient."

Joseph Joel Friedman, M.D.

INVESTIGATION OF CARBON DIOXIDE THER·APY. G. K. Yacorzynski, Ph.D., Arthur J. At·kinson, M.D., Jerome Cohen, Ph.D., and ForestG. Shufflebarger, M.D. Springfield, III.: CharlesC. Thomas, 1962, 313 pp.

The determined effort of the authors to findthe place for carbon dioxide therapy in the prac­tice of medicine is indeed both timely and ap­propriate. The use of over ten thousand statisticsin attempting to evaluate two hundred and fiftyvariables found in personality and rating testsis an indication of the thoroughness of theirwork.

This is a well controlled investigation of thedifferences between the effects of nitrous oxideand carbon dioxide treatments, from which rea­sonable conclusions are drawn. Although onlypatients with colitis were used for this stUdy,the observations of the researchers were by nomeans limited to the changes in the colon. Theauthors, being aware of the changing symptom­atology and elusiveness of the nervous ailments,limited the scope of their stUdy to the colitis pa­tients while at the same time they measuredpersonality and physical changes in these pa­tients.

The intellect of the SUbjects was evaluated by

1962 PSYCHOSOMATICS 245

the effects of relative freedom or lack of free­dom under communism as compared to westernideology.

An excellent discussion on neurophysiology byWilder Penfield is included; other unusual papersdeal with the role of experience (D. O. Hebb),human potentialities (Aldous Huxley), psycho­pharmacology (S. S. Kety, James G. Miller, J. O.Cole).

Panel discussions, representing the widest pos­sible range of disciplines, cover many fascinatingareas. The final one dealt with a) the rationalefor the symposium, b) the desirability of avoid­ing confusion between the cure of illness bydrugs and manipulation of the normal person,c) the "vulgarization" of psychiatric knowledge,and d) Freud's psychoanalytic approach. Pro­fessors of sociology, psychiatry and political sci­ence participated-'-and did communicate not onlywith each other but with a most critical andquestioning audience.

The Schering Corporation is to be congratu­lated on making this unusual symposium possible.

W.D.

THE PSYCHOLOGY OF INSANITY by BernardHart. Cambridge. Univ. Press. 1st paperbacked. 1962. 127 pages. $1.25 (1st Ed. 1912).

This book, first published in 1912, attemptsto present the subject matter in a simple, sys­tematic, manner. The general principles enun­ciated are those of Freud, Jung, Janet, Krafft­Ebing and lastly Trotter whose two papers on"Herd Instinct" are cited.

A brief history of mental disorder is presented,followed by a concept of mental disorder. Thephenomena are explained through the mentalmechanisms of dissociation, complexes, conflict,regression, repression, projection and phantasy,with a final summation of the significance of con­flict. The author insists that brain and physiol­ogy are different from mind and psychology andthat a different language or terminology mustbe used for each. "The psychological laws mustcontain no physiological terms and the physio­logical laws must contain no psychologicalterms."

Carefully, with adequate description, and withclinical examples, the mental mechanisms areevolved and discussed. Each mechanism is shownto be important and a relative degree of impor­tance is established. Even though repression isshown to be the most used and most importantmechanism, dissociation becomes a key mecha­nism in the authors dogmatic schema. The fol­lOWing quotes not only illustrates this but helpsset the scene for the final statement:

"The delusions of the insane resemble many ofthe beliefs and opinions held by the sane. . . . In

other respects, however, they differ to such anextent that it is generally easy to decide towhich of the two groups a given symptom mustbe assigned. The beliefs of the sane, whethertrue or false, are generally supported by theopinion of a class, and are the result of the op­eration of herd instinct. The delusions of theinsane, on the other hand, are not so supported,but are individual aberrations dependent uponfactors working in direct opposition to herd in­stinct. In the insane, disssociation has been car­ried to a degree which is incompatible with nor­mal thought on behavior, and mental processesare allowed to pursue their course altogether un­disturbed by the contradictions presented by thefacts of experience. . . . In phantasy the crea­tions of an idle fancy have become the delusionsof insanity. A further degree of dissociation hasbeen attained. . . . The fundamental mechanismwhich underlies the vast group of insanities con­sists essentially in a dissociation of the herd in­stincts. . . . The problem is how to obviate theunderlying dissociation ... it would be necessaryto deal with the conflict which produced it. Theprimitive instincts cannot be altered, and the at­tack must be directed against the traditions andcodes which obtain their force from the opera­tion of the herd instinct-the ways in which thesetraditions and codes act upon the mind of thepatient."

Joseph Joel Friedman, M.D.

INVESTIGATION OF CARBON DIOXIDE THER·APY. G. K. Yacorzynski, Ph.D., Arthur J. At·kinson, M.D., Jerome Cohen, Ph.D., and ForestG. Shufflebarger, M.D. Springfield, III.: CharlesC. Thomas, 1962, 313 pp.

The determined effort of the authors to findthe place for carbon dioxide therapy in the prac­tice of medicine is indeed both timely and ap­propriate. The use of over ten thousand statisticsin attempting to evaluate two hundred and fiftyvariables found in personality and rating testsis an indication of the thoroughness of theirwork.

This is a well controlled investigation of thedifferences between the effects of nitrous oxideand carbon dioxide treatments, from which rea­sonable conclusions are drawn. Although onlypatients with colitis were used for this stUdy,the observations of the researchers were by nomeans limited to the changes in the colon. Theauthors, being aware of the changing symptom­atology and elusiveness of the nervous ailments,limited the scope of their stUdy to the colitis pa­tients while at the same time they measuredpersonality and physical changes in these pa­tients.

The intellect of the SUbjects was evaluated by