More and more physicians are concerning themselves with medical history, and to an increasing extent specialty boards require that candidates possess some historical knowledge in their specialty. There is a vast array of so-called secondary sources—what has been written about the important historical figures or events. All too neglected have been the primary sources, the writings of the historical figures themselves. A good anthology of primary sources is highly desirable, especially if accompanied by good commentary, and this, for the field of brain structure and function, is what Clarke and O'Malley have produced. They have restricted themselves to the anatomy and physiology of the central nervous system, while clinical conditions enter in only as they advanced our knowledge of these subjects. The book is in no sense a history of clinical neurology. The material is vast, and orderly presentation offers problems. The authors have chosen a subdivision of 13 major