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In the diagnosis of children's illnesses and troubles, the recognition of the part played by the Oedipus complex, Oliveira states, often gives the clue to diagnosis and treatment. This is illustrated by the following two cases:
1A boy of 3, physically healthy and of healthy parents, became subject to fits which were diagnosed as epileptic. These increased, and Oliveira was consulted. He found a vivacious, intelligent child with some motor irritability. The baby was entirely breast-fed till four months and weaned completely at the thirteenth month. A sister was born when the boy was two years eight months. The boy was utterly spoiled by his mother and grandmother; the latter would not allow him on any account to be crossed. He insisted on sharing the parental bed and would only take food from his mother and go out with her. One day, from a trivial interference, there was a scene; he lost himself, became cyanotic, and fell down. Epilepsy was suspected; the fits became frequent, occurring more especially when the child was crossed. The diagnosis lay between epilepsy, laryngeal spasm and respiratory emotional spasm. From the history he rejected the two former. When the required changes in the child's upbringing were carried out, the attacks gradually diminished and then ceased completely.
2A boy of 5 was suffering from loss of appetite, night sweats, obstinate constipation, and was very thin. The father was dead and the child was thoroughly spoilt by his mother with exuberant caresses, especially after the father's death; the child insisted on sleeping with his mother. He was violent towards the two other children. No medical treatment was required; the position was explained to the mother; the child was sent to a day school and was not allowed to sleep with his mother, who was urged to pay less attention to the boy.