Lectures on Madness, in its Medical, Legal, and Social Aspects by Edgar Sheppard, M.D., &c., &c. London: J. and A. C. Churchill. 1873.

It is an old custom for an author to appear humbly before the reader in a preface, and state his reasons for writing his book, and for the still more audacious step of publishing it. Sometimes, being doubtful whether these reasons will be accepted, he throws the blame on the importunity of friends, who, he fondly imagines, have perused the MS., and who insist that it shall not be lost to the world. Whatever may be thought of the sincerity of these excuses, they form an implied admission that there are quite enough of books in print already, and that some justification is required for adding to the heap. I)r Sheppard has no preface, but his justification seems to be in his first sentence. " This is a new chair, and I am a new professor." Professors are in the habit of writing text-books, and publishers look on their MSS. with a favourable