Page:The International Journal of Psycho-Analysis III 1922 1.djvu/73

 BOOK REVIEWS

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as evidence that 'Freud's contribution, tiiat the sexual functions evolve gradually as a variation from nutritional functions, is neither a new nor a radical departure ' (p. 229).

We do not trace any influence of Jung's recent views, and both he and Adler are referred to only quite incidentally. Some light on his attitude towards them may be thrown by the following curious passage 'Darwin's theories were more generally accepted by the younger naturalists who were training for competition with the established naturalists; and the older men, who could not reconstruct their work, were unable to accept the theory, preferring their "standing" rather than the actual truth. Tlie feud bet\veen Freud, Jung, and Adler has a similar mechanism' (p. 238). We must regard this as a regression from the true aims of scientific work to the more primitive method of appraising the value of investigations by the age of the investigator The passage italicised by the author in the following sentence is more cabbahstic and we leave the interpretation of it to the reader: 'The only critic of psychoanalysis who can be considered at all reliable by the medical profession is the man who has himself practiced psycho- analysis and did not have to abandon it because of his own affective discomforts' (p, 735).

To sum up. The book is one of undoubted value and should be in every Ubrary of works on clinical psychology. It will provide the reader with a mass of interesting material and will also make him think. On the other hand we consider that the value of the theories it propounds is greatly overestimated by many American writers and that they signify little more than a strenuous, but only partly successful attempt to digest the work of Freud and Adler. In our opinion the essential ^^. defect underlying them proceeds, however much Dr. Kempf may protest to the contrary, from an imperfect familiarity with the un- conscious mind. If he would consent to study psycho-analysis by the only direct and first-hand way possible we are convinced that his future contributions to the science of psychopathology would be more fruitful than this one is. y.. J.

The Psychology or Medicine. By T. W. Mitchell, M.D. (Methuen & Co., London, 1921. Pp. 187. Price 6s.)

In these days when every tyro thmks it necessary to write a book on medical psychology it is refreshing to come across one written by an author of the wide and balanced outlook and critical judgement for which Dr. Mitchell is so justly known. The book is distinguished by these qualities and is written with a rare lucidity that makes it a pleasure to read.