16 SEPTEMBER 1876, Page 21

Principles of Mental Physiology, with their Application to the Train-

ing and Discipline of the Mind and the Study of the Morbid Conditions. By W. B. Carpenter, CB., M.D., F.R.S. Fourth edition. (Henry S. King and Co.)—This edition of a valuable book, which we reviewed at considerable length on its first appearance, deserves notice for the new preface added to it, in which Dr. Carpenter deals with the more recent expositions of the doctrine of what is called Automatism, and gives his reasons for believing that the phenomena of human volition are to be classed as exceptional and "residual phenomena," in relation to the law of uniform antecedents and consequents. He points out that Science has been as much in- debted to the investigation of such residual phenomena, forming striking exceptions to some otherwise apparently universal law, as to any class of investigations, for its conquests, and argues that it is not truly scientific, therefore, to assume, in the face of strong apparent evidence to the contrary, that even the most universal of all scientific principles applies to a region in which we can neither verify its presence, nor, strictly speaking, so thoroughly believe it as to make our ordinary actions and phraseology in any way consistent with that belief. We need not say that Dr. Carpenter argues tho question with force, and a most distinct perception of all the bearings of the issue. In our opinion, at least, he is quite successful In making out his case.