The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-05-23
THE PRESS.
SATURDAY MORNING. MAY %. 1874
Recent Publications.

RESPONSIBILITY IN MENTAL DISEASES, by Henry
Mandsley, M. d. International Scientific Series
d. Appleton & Co., New York. For sale by Bal
ley and Noyes.
1t is very difficult, in the small space allot-
ted to us, to give thoroughly comprehensive
view, OF such an important work as this
proves TO be, after critical reading. One is
embarrassed. as to which of the new ideas,
visible on every page, he shall select to men
tion.
insanity, according to our author, can no
longer be re egarded from a theological, or a
metaphysical point of view. The idea, that
insanity is disease of the so-called immateri-
al part of man, is forever exploded. Insani-
ty is disease, disorder of the brain itself.
producing arrangement of thought, feeling,
and action, together or separately, to such
degree as to incapacitate the individual Tor
the relations of lfe
Many people are familiar, with the convulsive
phenomena of st. Vitus Dance, as it is popu-
larly called, where, in spite of all the mental
efforts OF the sufferer, there are repeated con-
soisfse actions or TIE muscu1ar system. rnese
convulslye actions are to be regarded as a
disease, an insanity as it were of the muscles
concerned. As the will cannot restrain con-
vulsive movements of the mlscies, of which
the patient is wholly aware, so the will can
not always restrain the morbid ideas of a dis
eased, and hence insane brain, which have
reached convulsive activity, although there
may be a clear consciousness of their morbi.
nature.
1t is great mistake to suppose that insani-
ty is thing so palpable that no one can
fail to recognize it. An insane temperament,
without being real disease, may easily and
abruptly break down into actual disease, un-
der strain from within or without.
All cases of alleged insanity, OF transitory
mania, i'll excuse of crime of any degree,
where there is no history of epilepsy, or OF
inherited neurosis, or where there has been
no injury to the head, or where there has
been no previous attack, are to be regarded
with the extreme st suspicion.
In the the concluding chapter, we find a
powerfully and clearly written essay on the
causes and prevention of insanity. The two
most prolific causes are hereditary transmits
sion, and intemperance, the former being
the most potent. Were the marriages of in
sane persons prevented by law, insanity
would soon crop out again from ;ntemper-
ance. 1t would be useless to attempt to en-
force laws Of prohibition of liquor, and mora
means should be resorted to.
Scattered throughout the book, in great
profusion, are cases of insanity, leading on to
suicide, homicide and other crmes
The Judges of the New Hampshire Bench,
ought to feel highly gratifed, at the unquali-
fled praise, with which their decisions in cas-
es of alleged insanity, meet at the hands of
such qualified observer of the insane as our
author. Every physician should own this
book, and no criminal lawyer should be with
out it-representing as it does the latest ideas,
as to the treatment of the insane, and stat
ing in unmistakable terms, the degrees of re-
sponsibiity attaching, to various steps of in
sane manifestations.
BADDEcK, AND THAT SORT OF THrNa.-By Charles
Dudley Warner. Boston: James R. Osgood & Co.
For sale by Loring, Short g. Harmon.
Readers of "My Summer in Garden, p
DacK1og cruu1es TSaunterIngs,- ana many
who only know those charming books by rep
utation, will be delighted with the present
little volume, containing the history of a sum-
mer's tour through the Eastern Provinces. 1t
is published in such convenient form and
with such clear type that it is just the book
to buy when starting on a journey. Mr..
Warmers writings have such an inimitable
piquantncy and such fund of droll humor.
that they are remedy for the most incor-
rigible fit of 'Blues," and will serve to while
away the tedium of many monotouons jour
ney. 'Baddeck" has already, through the
pages of the "Atlantic,' become familiar
to hosts of readers, who have followed with
interest the wanderings of tie travellers amid
the perpexities Of Down-East journey,
while seeking for place whereof every man
knows the name, but no man the location
and many in similar predicaments will SYM
pathize with the reckless adventures who so
boldly left the beaten routes of summer travel
to seek novelty, of which they certainly
found sufficient to satisfy the persevering te-
nacity with which they chung to their purpose
FIVE MINUTE CHATS WITH YOUNG WOMEN, AND
CERTAIN OTHER PARTIES. BY Do Lewis. New
York: Harper s. Bros. For sale by Loring,
Short & Harmon.
In his introduction DR.. Lewis says: eff one
would speak to the public now, he must speak
briefly, to the point, make his bow and be
off," and he proceeds to indulge in 426 pages
of health-gossip. 1t is to be hoped his theory
corresponds better with his practice in the
dicta which follow. The ''chats," which in
the main come under the head of the ''usetul
hints" which one sees in the corners of news
papers and almanacs, are readable, and doubt
less in many cases, really valuable. Many
important suggestions are made and the earn
est appeals against foolish customs in society
and elsewhere, deserve careful perusal. The
best feature of the book is the adherence of
drugs manifested. The worst feature is the
'shumor." When DR.. Lewis attempts to be
funny he suggests frisky COW more than
any other object in nature.
JOHN woRTHINGToN's NAME. Novel; By
Frank Lee Benedict. anthor of my Daughter
Elinor" etc. New York, Harper & Bros. Fol
sale by Loring, Short & Harmon.
This is a bright, interesting story and fully
sustains the reputation Of the author and the
publ ishers. Her plot is very complex but
we'll worked up and skillfuly unraveled.
Her story is the old one of an engagement
broken by jealousy which would admit Of
no explanations, and the final happy reunion
Of the parties after years of painful separa
love which each had for the other.
Magazines for June.
The June Atlantic closes the thirty-third
volume of this able periodical, and is an ex-