The first edition of this book appeared 25 years ago and consisted of two parts: an initial section by Dr. Pichon, which dealt with the causes and symptomatology of stuttering, and a second section by Mme. Borel-Maisonny, which outlined its treatment. In the current edition the chapters by Dr. Pichon have been left untouched since his death, but Dr. Launay has added a preface in which he deals with advances in this area since the first edition. The section by Mme. Borel-Maisonny has been enlarged by the author herself.
Dr. Pichon's theory of stuttering was to describe it as a defect of internal language (insuffisance linguispeculative), facilitated by various factors of a genetic, social, neurological, and psychological nature. Those coming to this volume from the literature in English will notice the relatively small part played by psychogenic theories in M. Pichon's scheme; and, in deed, emphasis on psychologic factors is