The position of an attendant or nurse in an insane hospital is a peculiar one requiring not only special instruction, but also special aptitude. The first of these can be given, the latter is a natural gift. Lacking it, however, much can be done to produce fairly satisfactory attendants from well intentioned, though not specially adapted, individuals and this book includes much that is available for this purpose. The instructions are addressed particularly to women, but, as the author says, they can readily be made applicable to either sex. The information on the forms of insanity, etc., and the chapters on psychology, may seem superfluous for ordinary attendants, but their perusal will do no harm and may serve to sharpen the observing faculties.