New-York tribune., 1921-01-19
Books u.yv,s> By s,...

The best approach to psyche analysis
for the casual reader is contained in
The Secret Springs, by Harvey O'Hig-
gins, which is a description Of the
theories and methods of DR.. Edward
Hiram Reede, of Washington. 1t is a
fascinating book and loses nothing in
truth or effectiveness from the fact
that it seems almost to be a collec-
tlon of short stories. Our only OBJ
lection is that they are too short. 1t
seems to US that there should be a
rather moro detailed explanation of
Dr. Reede's method. The identification
Of the particular complex which aff1icts
each patient is rather too easy in the
quick, concise, boiled down variations
OF O'Higgins. 1t also seems to US that
C'Higgins has thrown just a little too
much sweetness with his light. The
book might almost be called A Jung
Mans Fancy if somebody else hadn't
used that some place.
However, it is convincing book.
Some may remain cold to it. To them
we suggest that they take any one of
the popular books on nerves and nerv
Gus disorders written by the old
fashioned neurologists. The psyche
analysts have at least a definite plan
and working theory. Of course.
there are still defects in both their
practice and theory, and disputes, too
for that matter, but there is a scheme
and an intent. Everything outside the
field seems perfectly aimless to US.
Here on the desk, for instance, is a
new book entitled Nerves and the Man.
BY W. Charles Loosmore. In it we
iird such scraps Of advice for patients
as: Don't run into temptation. When
exposed, face it in confidence and self
respect" and Don't be the servant Of
your impulses. Make them serve you."
and also, Don't take thought for the
morrow; don't be fearful about it. .Suf-
ticicnt unto the day is the evil there
Of"
All this reminds US very much Of
the method which our good friend DR.
Blank had with nervous patients. He
once took us through an army hos
pital in France and as we entered one
ward q nurse said: "Joe, that mclan-
choly one tried to kill himself this
morning. He got hold Of a safety
razor blade somef2H-~y and cut his wrist
We got him in time, but he seems
pretty low in his mind 1 wish YOU
could do something for him"
"Certainly," said Dr.. Blank. and as
we passed through the ward he paused
just moment at the foot of the melan-
choly mans bed. Then he reached
down and patted the blanket. Cheer
up, Joe," he said, and we went on our
way.
1T IS scarcely ever necessary to en-
courage this instinct of establishment
IN child" writes Harvey OHiggins,
quoting DR.. Reede, land l should saw
that the average child never needs
physical punishment. The loss of the
love is enough to threaten.
Any child will tell you that it breads
the mothers anger more than blows.
BY appealing to its instinct of affection
any parent can defect a child's self
assertiveness into acceptable channels
and stabilize it there by rewardng all
efforts to win approval. In later years
the mothers approval will be replaced
BY self-approval, society's approval, the
approval Of the herd. The instinct of
self-assertion will have been success
fully 'sublimated.' and the child will
become useful and happy citizen, pub
lie spirited and publicly approved"
That's all right about tho average
child never needing physical punish
mcnt. We quito agree, but il tho state