Mongolism and Cretinism *This review is reprinted by the courtesy of the Editor of the "Eugenics Review".

The purpose of this book is stated to be " to rid mongolism of the mystery clouding its proper medical recognition and to publish data which were collected in the Wallace Research Laboratory during ten years of continuous research". It is based upon a study of over 300 cases, which included repeated physical measurements, radiological, biochemical, psychological and aetiological investigations, as well as the post-mortem examination of fifty cases. The book also deals, by way of contrast, with certain aspects of cretinism; but mongolism is its chief concern. After an account of history, frequency and terminology, and a description of the physical and mental characteristics, the author passes to the results of his histological, biochemical, pathological and endocrine findings. This is the largest and most important part of the book. It is based upon a very thorough and painstaking investigation, particularly of the endocrine glands, and as a result of this Dr. Benda comes to the conclusion that the condition known as mongolism is undoubtedly due to congenital inadequacy of the pituitary gland. He finds a deficiency of the secretion of other endocrine glands; but these are activated by the pituitary, and he considers that defect of this is the essential basis. The mongol " is born with a pituitary deficiency which he is never able to overcome ". In addition, the author finds a number of other pathological changes in the brain and spinal cord, the chief of which are areas of necrosis and demyelination and disease of the nerve cells. These, as he states, are similar to the changes produced by chronic deficiency of oxygen or sugar metabolism, and he draws the conclusion that the whole disturbance is due to some ill health or abnormality of the mother. After giving details of sixty-seven cases of women of various ages who had given birth to mongol children, he states that no one who glances through these can escape the conclusion that the cause of mongolism is to be found in