means of illustration, as well as the whole history of the subject. This book is a distinct contribution to this most important question which is discussed, not only from the standpoint of the practical application of the subject, but the question is considered throughout by a careful, trained, scientific observer who does not forget at any point to bring out the basic principles underlying the subject. In this particular the book is in violent contrast with some other books on the same subject, prepared by those who have studied the subject only in an empirical way and who are totally disqualified to discuss the scientific principles on which the theory of identification of any kind is based.

The work contains 150 most interesting and helpful illustrations; it is dedicated to Sir Edward Richard Henry, of Scotland Yard, London, whose portrait also appears. The frontispiece of the book is a most fascinating foot print (perhaps of a Smith College girl!) showing in one impression the thousands of identifying characteristics in a "Wilder Foot Print."

New York City.

ALBERT S. OSBORN.

ELEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE NEW YORK STATE PROBATION COMMISSION FOR THE YEAR 1917. Albany. Pp. 603.

The Report is a well edited volume of 600 pages, the work of Charles L. Chute, Secretary of the Commission, Albany, N. Y. Being written while this country was at war, stress is laid on the part probation officers played in the preventive and protective service to which the war inspired all of us. Probation work was not let down, but was rather stimulated by the war activities.

The Report indicates the great value of a state probation commission, which can take stock of present work done both at home and in other states, and which can standardize, in a great measure, the work throughout the state, stressing needs and shortcomings, offering counsel and assistance to new officers, and offering to all officers light on ever changing problems.

The report of the work of the commission, which covers the first 60 pages, is graphically illustrated by charts, showing from what courts probationers have come, the increase in the use of probation, the increase in the number of salaried probation officers, the charges on which persons put on probation were arraigned and the apparent results of probation. The report points out the decrease in the prison population of New York State, and the deteriorating quality, both mentally and morally of those committed; indicating that the probation system is weeding out the normal and reclaimable type of offender, and is saving him from the stigma of imprisonment.

In addition to the usual report of the work of the commission, the volume contains the report of a committee appointed by the commission to study methods of supervising probationers. The report of this committee is a real contribution to the literature of the subject and is well worth the study of all who are engaged in probation work. This report states the general problem and then gives an analysis of

probation methods in New York State and in other states, together with the conclusions and recommendations of the committee.

The appendix which comprises two-thirds of the volume contains statistics of the commission for the year ending June 30, 1917; the proceedings of the Tenth Annual Conference of Probation Officers of New York State, giving in full the discussions on current probation problems; and a directory of probation officers in New York State.

The report of the commission may well be used as a text-book for probation officers both in New York State and in other states. JOSEPH L. Moss.

Chicago.

MANUAL FOR PROBATION OFFICERS IN NEW YORK STATE. Second Edition. Revised, 1918. Prepared by the State Probation Commission, Albany, N. Y. J. B. Lyon Company, Printers. Pp. 343.

On page 137 of this report the statement is made: "Inasmuch as there may be as many kinds of probation as there are courts using probation, the State Probation Commission aims to co-ordinate the probation work of all courts so that each one may benefit from the experiences of others." The Manual for Probation Officers is one method which the State Commission has used to establish a minimum standard of efficiency in all the courts using probation. It is an excellent piece of work. It is impossible to summarize its contents as it is enclyclopædic in what it covers. But even though it does cover so much, words are not wasted. Each subject is treated briefly and clearly. It cannot help but have a large influence in standardizing probation work in the Empire State.

The two most practical chapters are those which deal with the duties, powers and methods of probation officers, and procedure during probation, and the one on records, reports, forms, accounts and statistics. The former chapter treats each subject in a concise manner and cites the law covering each point. These citations make the chapter infinitely more valuable to those who use the book. An excellent set of record and report forms are printed in the Manual with the statement that the State Probation Commission will install them free of charge in any court. There could be no better way of establishing a uniform system of forms throughout the state. The Manual is invaluable to New York probation officers and of great service to all others. Similar manuals should be published in every state. The excellence of this book is a strong argument for state probation commissions in states where they do not as yet exist.

Chicago.

JOEL D. HUNTER.

REPORT OF THE MAGISTRATES' COURT, CITY OF NEW YORK. By Edwin J. Cooley. 1917-1918. Pp. 106.

This comprehensive report by the chief probation officer, Edwin J. Cooley, contains suggestive material for probation work in all cities One is impressed by the fact that of the 204,685 persons ar

raigned in the City Magistrates' Courts in one year, 3.7%, or 5,288, were placed on probation; and that to handle the immense amount of work entailed by this number of cases, only 42 probation officers are available. Indeed, there has been no increase in the staff since 1912. That so large a number of persons as 68.5% males and 74.4% females were discharged with improvement seems almost incredible, considering the volume of work to be done. This well presented report should be a strong argument for an immediate large increase in the staff.

Mr. Cooley points out the fact, already being recognized in other courts, that specialization of work is an aid to efficiency. A great deal of the time, possibly more than half, of the officers is used in making preliminary investigations on cases that are pending. This work must be well and quickly done, and to supervise probationers and also to make these urgent investigations means that one or the other will be slighted.

In the case of probationers, Mr. Cooley emphasizes the need, first, of a constructive plan covering home surroundings, work, companions, recreation and religious interests. He states that with the pressure of work now falling on officers there is not the least possibility of diagnosing individual problems or planning to meet them. Second, he calls attention to the need of co-operation with existing agencies in an effort to carry out this plan, once made. All through the report the importance of proper contracts with other agencies is brought out, in an effort to gain real results. Third, he brings out the necessity of keeping in touch with probationers, not only by office reporting, but by home visits. The latter is important as office reporting "is liable to degenerate into mere formality." During 1917 the highest average home visits to a probationer was seven. Mr. Cooley states in this connection that such a few visits will hadly "effect the required reformation." Fourth, he insists that in cases where the probationer disregards his probation, he must be promptly brought in for violation. This last is essential if probation work is to have the proper standing in the community.

Mr. Cooley recognizes that the success of probation work depends on the persons doing it. He has tried during the year to improve the work of his officers by better supervision of their work, more careful planning of time and districting, standardizing of reports and records, conferences addressed by persons qualified to give valuable suggestions, and by sending officers to state and national conferences of various kinds.

During the year Mr. Cooley directed his attention chiefly to a study of the entire field, collecting of statistics, revising of the record system, and a campaign for an increased staff. This last, most unfortunately, failed of its purpose, for it was well planned and carried out, and certainly deserved success. The way it was carried on is suggestive to other probation departments looking for an increase in the number of its officers.

He outlines a plan for the coming year covering a system of publicity, a survey of the results of probation, a central bureau of records, as well as such constructive matters concerning probationers

as proper physical and mental tests, better ways of securing employment, and better co-operation with public and private agencies.

One is chiefly impressed in studying this report with the impossible task assigned to Mr. Cooley, and his inadequate staff, and with the fact that in the midst of such unusual discouragements a great deal of constructive work is being done. One feels that this should in time impress the public with its value to the community and with the need of greatly increasing its possible efficiency.

Chicago Juvenile Court.

HELEN MABEL Jewell.

COOK COUNTY AND THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED.

A Study of the

Provisions for Dealing with Mental Problems in Cook
County, Illinois. Report of Survey, 1916-17. Prepared by
Herman M. Adler, M. D., The National Committee for
Mental Hygiene, Inc., 50 Union Square, New York, 1918.
Pp. 224.

This is a report of a survey of Cook County made under the auspices of the National Committee for Mental Hygiene. Dr. Adler, in making this survey, has made no attempt to determine the number or percentage of mentally defective persons in Cook County who need attention. It is unnecessary to do so. His problem has been, rather, to determine what facilities are offered within the county, and particularly within the City of Chicago, for dealing with the feeble-minded and other mentally defective persons. To this end Dr. Adler describes such institutions as the following and offers in most instances helpful criticisms: The Chicago Psychopathic Hospital; the Cook County Jail; the Chicago and Cook County School for Boys; St. Charles School for Boys; State Training School for Girls; House of the Good Shepherd; Lincoln State School and Colony; such public non-institutional agencies as the courts, the Board of Education, and the Cook County Bureau of Social Service; private non-institutional agencies such as the Psychopathic Laboratory of the University of Chicago; the Illinois Society for Mental Hygiene, etc.

The volume contains three appendices: (1) Legislation for the Insane in Massachusetts with Particular Reference to the Voluntary Admission and Temporary Care Laws; (2) laws relating to Insane Persons and other Classes under the Supervision of the Massachusetts Commission on Mental Diseases; (3) the Insanity Law of New York State.

Northwestern University.

ROBERT H. GAULT.

PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED

"Social Process." By Charles Horton Cooley. Chas. Scribner's Sons, New York City, 1918. Pp. 430. $2.00 net.

"The Technic of Psychoanalysis." By Smith Ely Jelliffe, M. D. Nervous and Mental Disease Publication Co., New York, 1918. Pp. 160. $1.50.

"John Dewey's Logical Theory. Cornell Studies in Philosophy No. 11. By Delton Thomas Howard, Ph.D. Longmans, Greene & Co., New York, 1918. Pp. 135.

"The Newsboys of Cincinnati." By Maurice B. Hexter. Studies from the Helen S. Trounstine Foundation, Vol. I, No. 4. Jan. 15, 1919. Pp. 177.

"The Criminal Code of Japan." Translated from the original Japanese text by J. E. deBecker, Yokahama. Kelley & Walsh, 1918. Pp. 100.

"Japanese Code of Criminal Procedure and Rules for Dealing Summarily with Contraventions." Translated from the original Japanese text by J. E. deBecker, Yokahama. Kelley & Walsh, 1918. Pp. 106.

"Second Report of Provost Marshal General to the Secretary of War on the Operations of the Selective Service System to December 20, 1918." Washington, 1919. Pp. 607.

"Bulletin of the Massachusetts Commission on Mental Diseases (Monson Anniversary No.)." Vol. II, No. 2. July, 1918. Pp. 160.

"A Survey of Twenty-five Hundred Prisoners in the Psychopathic Laboratory in the Indiana State Prison." By Paul E. Bowers. Reprinted from the Journal on Delinquency, Vol. IV, No. 1. Jan., 1919. Pp. 1-45.

"The Seventy-fourth Annual Report of the Prison Association of New York for 1918." Albany, 1919. Pp. 110.

"Annual Report of the Chicago Association of Detective Sergeants of the City of Chicago for the Year 1918." Pp. 25.

Inaugurazione Dell'Anno. Giudiziario 1919. Discorso del Procuratore generale. Luigi Lucchini nell 8 assemblea generale del 4 gennaio Firenze. 1919. Pp. 49.