The Indianapolis journal., 1884-02-01
NEW BOOKS.

LEGISLATION ON INSANITY. By George L. Harrison,
Ii. D. Privately printed, 101 South Front street,
Philadelphia
A fine volume of 1119 pages bound in the
usual form of law books, and being a collection
of all the lunacy laws of the States and Terri
tories of the United States, to the year 1888 in
elusive Also, the laws of England on insanity,
legislation in Canada on private houses, and i'm
portant portions of the lunacy laws of Germany,
France, ETC. The author has been in position to
realize the needs of the insane and to see the de-
fects in legislation upon this important question,
having served as president of the Board of Public
Charities of Pennsylvania In the preface he
justly observes.
'If the present status of this sad but interest
ing question was appreciated by the public as
well as the true position it should occupy, no
citizen, sane or insane, would be exposed to the
risks or the actual wrongs which confront them
always, and from which they cannot always es-
cape. When the error is dispelled that public
concern and personal interest in the we'll being
of the insane are not legitimate factors to these
improvement and recovery, and when these take
the practical shape os observation and activity
in their service, there will come to pass however
gradually, a recognition of the needs of their
helpless ones; they will be allowed a more per-
sonal intercourse with the just, the judicious,
and the philanthropic, which will keep open to
the public, who their real guardians and
judges, knowledge of their condition, and
of the measure of Justice or injustice
they receive 1t will then happen that the chief
physician shall not be the housekeeper and the
inancier for 500 1000 boarders; that his as
sistants will not necessarily assume his author
ity and fulfill his duty in the gravest cases. that
the nurses and attendants will be selected for
their actual qualifications and especial fitness for
their delicate work, and not for their cheapness.
system will then ensue which will, by its own
merit and adaptation to the circumstances of the
0ulV sniff and vybi
will give time and opportunity for the considera-
ton, by those who have them in charge, of the
peculiar claim they have upon their sympathy
and their sense of justice"
The book presents all the legislation relative
to the insane of the various countries named,
from which the reader who studies the subject
to any purpose may easily see what is best. The
subject is of sufficient importance. to make
large sale for this work, which it will doubtless
have.
HISTORY OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. By Phillip
Schat. Vol. III. Charles Scribners Sons, New
York. Merrill, Megs & Co., Indianapolis Price
$4.
An elegant volume of upward of 1000 pp,
recounting the history of the Christian church.
this volume embracing the Nicene and post
Nicene period of Christianity, A. D. 3l1-60O
This is history of the church in detail, not
alone an army moving forward from conquer
ing to conquest, but in detail, as of the vari-
GUS regiments and battalons that compose
the line. In their regular order the au thor
gives the origin, development and adoption of
the various Christian tenets, such as the rite of
baptism, the celebration of the eucharist, the
development of monasticfsm, the lights and
shades, and influence and effect of monasticism;
the origin of the Christian calendar, the festivals
of the saints ETC. The various doctrines
and schsms are brought forward from
their inception, and traced through
all their varying phases. The various doctrin-
aires are brought into review, the causes and cir
cumstances that impelled them are related and
the effect of their teachings shown. To even the
casual reader this work is full of interest, while
to the student it is beyond value presenting as
it does, so many well-nigh inaccessible data in
such admirable FORM No theological library is
complete without these Volumes no minister
well-equipped who has not mastered them.
THE TRIBUNE ALMANAC AND POLITICAL REGISTER.
Edward MCPHERSON editor The Tribune Associa
ton, New York. Paper; 80 cents.
The Tribune Almanac, with its correct and
well-edited statistics, has long been an acknowl-
edged authority and reference book for the peo-
ple There is fund of valuable information in
this almanac that can not be found in the same
space anywhere, and no man interested in pub
lie affairs can afford to be without it
'PEAcE" and 'REsT" Anson D. F. Randolph &
Co., New York. Price, 35 cents each. Sent by
publishers.
Two tiny books made up of sacred verses on
the title topics.
Messrs. L. Prang & Co., Boston, have issued
a large variety of valentine souvenirs and me-
mentoes, and, as usual, surpass in excellence of
design and finish. This art-publishing firm is
the best in the world, and its beautiful work
receives encomiums in all parts of the artistic
al n,.lc