British Psycho-Analytical Society

January 21, 1931. Dr. Fairbairn (Edinburgh University, as guest): 'Points in the Analysis of a Woman without Genitalia'. Case suffered from anxiety, self-reproach and periodical attacks of depression. Analysis shewed intense oral-sadistic fixation and severe super-ego of mother pattern; manic phase followed release of repression; also periods of distressing self-consciousness in the presence of men. It was held that the absence of female genitalia in women was less significant to them than the absence of the penis. Case provided an opportunity for study of manic-depressive mechanisms operating in parvo.

February 4, 1931. Mrs. Klein: 'Early Anxiety-situations and Ego development'. (An excerpt from a forthcoming book on the analysis of children.)

February 18, 1931. Dr. Franklin: 'The Family Reactions during the Analysis of a case of Obsessional Neurosis'. The effect of a neurosis and its treatment on the behaviour of the family. Patient and her milieu formed a neurotic constellation; her improvement following analysis disturbed other members, particularly the mother, who became increasingly hostile. This increasing hostility exploited by patient. Disturbance in associates of patients undergoing analysis may be due to stress of attention on patient, combined with interference with compensating mechanisms. A comparatively symptomless person may be the driving force causing and deriving satisfaction from the neurosis of another. The significance of environmental manifestations during analysis was considered; the most direct path to environmental alteration is through analysis.

March 4, 1931. Short communications:

• 1Miss Searl: 'The Patience of Children'. General underestimation of patience of small children towards adults. Adults do not understand phantasies of little children. Older children have to a large extent lost hope of such understanding, but three-year-old children have not abandoned this hope. Once the