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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 '' 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. 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 favorable eye, since a pretty sure sale may be expected from their students, especially if the professors be also examiners. Why, then, should Dr Sheppard not publish his Lectures on Madness? Taking into consideration the demands upon the time and attention of medical students, the Professor does not think he would be doing justice to them if he extended his course beyond seven or eight lectures. This, however, is totally insufficient to do justice to the subject. The whole work contains only 186 pages post octavo, and could be read in an evening, so it cannot stand in place of a textbook. Much of the matter treated of, or alluded to, is gone over in a superficial manner. The book, however, is pleasant reading to those interested in the subject; and where the author takes a little time, the description of the different forms of insanity are graphically done. The lectures, for example, on Puerperal Insanity and General Paralysis of the Insane contain judicious information in an agreeable form. The author's style is striking and lively, but it would be well if he abstained from quotations and notes upon subjects not immediately connected with the matter in hand. The habit of quoting Shakespeare is not an uncommon one with writers on insanity; but most people will be surprised to learn from Dr. Sheppard, that the great poet was the first to shape the disease called General Paralysis into a distinct and morbid entity; and the reader has only to turn to Troilus and Cressida, act ii., scene iii., for an accurate and truthful description of the disease. It appears to us that the lines he quotes merely describe inordinate conceit and vanity in Achilles. One might as well say that, in Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare gives a description of nymphomania, or in Sir Andrew Aguecheek a portrait of cretinism.... -Edinburgh Medical Journal, Vol. 12

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