The Psycho-Analytical Movement

As is evident from the literature, in the form both of books and journals, and from the reports of congresses and meetings of scientific bodies, analysis is coming more and more under discussion amongst French neurologists and psychiatrists. Some quotations from L'Encéphale (Journal de Neurologie et de Psychiatrie) illustrate this interest. At a meeting of the Société de Psychiatrie on March 15, 1923, Minkowski read a paper on the value of psycho-analytical methods, which he had studied in a case of impotence. (Success of the therapy.) At the same meeting Cornélius criticized from the psychological point of view Freud's concept of repression. In a paper entitled 'Repression and Sexuality in the Psychoneuroses' Hartenberg dealt with these conceptions as presented in analysis, and a lively discussion followed. Ombrédanne then read a paper on Freud's methods of investigation.

At a meeting on February 15, 1923, Delmas gave an exposition of the analytical theory of parapraxes and Georges Dumas spoke on non-sexual repression in the neuroses. Hesnard (Bordeaux) objected to Dumas's criticism that Freud took into account the repression of sexual tendencies only. Hesnard's paper on repression was followed by a discussion in which Pierre Janet took part.

At the Seventeenth Congress of the Psychiatrists and Neurologists of France and other French-speaking Countries (held at Besançon from August 2–7, 1923) psycho-analysis was discussed in various aspects. At this Congress Hesnard read a paper entitled 'Psycho-Analysis', in which he criticized the results of psycho-analysis from four points of view; the ætiological, the methodological, the therapeutic and the heuristic. Making allowance for all objections and with all due reservation he came to the conclusion that psycho-analysis, freed from its exaggerations and in spite of all its mistakes, has an undeniable right to scientific interest in France. A lively discussion took place, Schnyder (Berne), Bovet (Geneva),