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John Lane?The Bodley Head Ltd. lUs. t>d. net.
This is another book, written by an ex-patient in a mental hospital. Its potential value may also be lost by its mode of presentation. Indeed, as it stands, it is difficult to see that many readers will derive any benefit from it. It is true that it gives a description of abuses in mental hospitals, and the suggested remedies deserve sympathy; but the rambling way the whole book is presented, and the disjointed sketches of the author's behaviour will make it difficult for the ordinary reader to follow, however interesting the detail may be to psychiatrists.
The main object of the book would appear to be to describe the author's escape from mental disease, as well as from a mental hospital, by methods based on Hatha-Yoga practices. The capacity to use such practices obviously requires much self-discipline and patience?and it is doubtful whether the guidance given by Mr. Ogdon is clear and straightforward enough to enable other patients to adopt this relief; while, on the other hand, it does not contain enough detail to serve as a scientific basis for an investigation into the possible use of such a system to be employed in " stemming, checking and finally routing the progress of mental diseaseR.F.T.