Page:The International Journal of Psycho-Analysis II 1921 2.djvu/81

 BOOK REVIEWS 237

But the most remarkable matter is to be found in the seventh and last chapter, entitled 'The Four Schools of Pychoanalysis', in which the author expounds the views of^if psycho-analysts would like to try a guess at the four names which herein appear it is more than improb- able that they will hit the mark. It will indeed be quite new to learn that "the four principle exponents of the science are Freud, Tung; Adler Kempf '. One is quite surprised that Mr. Tridon has thought fit to include Freud! But since he informs us that Freud's mode of thinking gives "the impression that the mental and the physical are two separate entities", it would seem that he really might have left him out, for obviously he is unable to realize the A. B^ C. of that mode of thinking. May we further inform him that in the world of psycho-analytic in- vestigation and thought, there are such honoured names as those of Dr. Ferenczi, Dr. Ernest Jones, Dr. Abraham, Dr. Putnam, which even the mere beginner would be ashamed to ignore. In short, this is a book which a reviewer must warn the student and beginner against in the strongest possible terms.

Barbara Low

The Autonomic Functions and the Personality, By Dr. Edward J Kempf. (Nervous and Mental Disease Monograph Series, 1920. Price S 200.)

We feel about this work that in England at any rate it will not get a fair hearing (or reading). This is due to the extremely unattractive and difficult style in which the book is written, and, as can be gathered from extracts made for other purposes below, it is a labour to wade through it and drag to light any contributions of value Dr. Kempf may have made.

The thesis of the book is to shew that "in higher organisms an affective system (autonomic) exists which created and uses the cerebro- spinal or projicient system as a means to keep in contact with the environment in order that the autonomic apparatus may fulfil its bio- logical career" and that "whenever the autonomic or affective sensori- motor apparatus is disturbed or forced into a state of unrest, either through the necessities of metabolism, or endogenous stimuli, it compels the projicient sensorimotor apparatus to so adjust the receptors in the environment as to acquire stimuli having the capacity to produce adequate postural adjustments in the autonomic apparatus. In this manner, only, the disturbance of function may be neutralised. The constant tendency of the autonomic apparatus is to so organise the pro- jicient apparatus into a means as to acquire a maximum ot affective gratification with a minimum expenditure of energy or effort"

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