A first introduction to Freud's work is almost certain to arouse repulsion; this is largely due to the unveiling of psycho-sexual activities in all their minutiae; and to the unusual application of language, which in the past has been employed in a very limited sense. It remains to be seen whether this terminology is an integral part of the psychology, or whether, indeed, the application of the words ' sex ' and ' sexual' is really so wide as Freud and his followers claim. But his psychology is gaining wider and wider acceptation, and this in spite of the fact that it arouses resistances in the individual. Perhaps his theories are overstated; if so, time and further investigation will remedy the defect. No one has maintained a more open mind upon the subject than Freud himself, and the fluid condition in which he maintained his theories until they became certainties in his view is immensely instructive. His followers and opponents do not always show the same open-mindedness.

* This is no indictment against needlework per se, but applies equally to any occupation which is purely mechanical, and which under a cloak of industry leaves the mind free to wander aimlessly. In neurotic persons of a morbid and unhappy temperament more absorbing and less automatic work is to be preferred.

† ' Three Contributions,' etc., p. 9.

Freud's case of Miss Lucy R------ illustrates so many important points with respect to the etiology and treatment of hysteria that I venture to present it briefly. This young lady was governess to two children in the family of a widower in Vienna. She had chronic purulent rhinitis, subsequently found to be due to caries of the ethmoid, and was referred to Professor Freud by a colleague on account of certain hysterical symptoms. She complained of anosmia and subjective sensations of smell - viz., an odour of burning pastry, sometimes replaced by that of cigar smoke.

The analysis showed that the first occasion upon which the odour of burning pastry was perceived occurred at a moment of emotional strain as follows: Miss Lucy R-----had written home suggesting that her position in the house had become unbearable owing to the servants' gossip about herself and her master. She had promised the dead wife that she would ' be a mother to the children,' to whom she was deeply attached. She had just received a reply letter from home, which the children teasingly and fondly took from her, saying she must not open it now, but keep it for her birthday fete two days later. This display of affection occurring at a time of painful indecision touched a sore point, for she was full of sorrow at the thought of leaving them and their father. The children had left their play of pastry-making to come to her, and at this moment a smell of burning reached her, although at the time she had severe coryza and could scarcely smell anything at all.

This, then, was obviously a traumatic moment, * of which the specific odour was a memory symbol.

None of the things related so far should have led to hysteria, and Freud asked himself why all this did not remain on an ordinary psychological basis. He was obliged to believe that the girl was in love with her master, and with kindness and tact accused her of this feeling, which she at once admitted she believed to be true, and defended herself from having failed to confess it by saying that her love (for which her master had given her some slight excuse) was hopeless, from the difference in social position, etc., and that she had ' determined to crowd it out of her mind.'

After this confession there was some remission of the symptoms, but now, after a time, an odour of cigar smoke replaced the former smell. In connection with this, analysis revealed a second deeper-seated accessory trauma, for it was shown that this smell had occurred before as well as after that of the burning pastry, which concealed it for a time. She recounted another emotional moment during which her master had become violently angry with a gentleman visiting the house, who on leaving gave great offence by kissing the children, and brought upon himself, in the presence of governess and children, a storm of abuse, which revealed the master in a truculent guise. Pursuing the associations with this scene, the actual traumatic moment emerged. A few months earlier a lady visitor had kissed the children in the presence of their father, who waited till she had left the house to vent his extreme vexation on the governess for permitting it - in fact, ' held her responsible,' and declared if it happened again he would find someone else to look after his children.

This unjust upbraiding was a revelation to Miss Lucy R------that she had misunderstood the nature of her master's former confidence and kindness, and that she had been entertaining false hopes, which she thereupon determined to crowd out of her thoughts. This self-revelation and confession brought about a final and complete cure of her symptoms. The treatment lasted nine weeks, and the cure was later proved to be permanent.

* The 'traumatic theory' is already a matter of past history with Freud, who now lays greatest stress upon the discovery of resistances. It is notable that in certain surgical conditions the muscles stand like sentinels round a diseased part, resisting accidental and purposive interference, and complicating diagnosis.

Such a case is by no means uncommon, but one must admit it is not often tracked down with so much insight, nor so rapidly and effectually cured. The original trauma was the last to be discovered. It was associated, as is invariably the case, with repression of an unbearable idea.

Miss Lucy R------'s love was incompatible with her ' ego'; she probably conceived it as a want of dignity in a dependent; thus a conversion took place, the subjective sensation of smell interpreting hysterical symptoms. The banished thought in such cases enters the unconscious, but retains its full psychic activity, and ' forms a nucleus and point of crystallization for the formation of a new psychic group, separated from the ego, around which in time everything collects which accords with the opposing presentation. The splitting of consciousness in such cases of acquired hysteria is thus an intentional and desired one, and is often initiated by at least one arbitrary act. But, literally, something different from what the individual expects happens; he would wish to eliminate a presentation, but only succeeds in isolating it psychically.' *