In his foreword to this second volume of a projected trilogy of monographs on psycho-analytic research, Fliess, anticipating possible criticism, concedes that the title he has chosen 'is likely to arouse expectations it cannot fulfil'. Feeling perhaps a shade penitent, he goes on to shrive himself with the reflection that it is 'impossible to furnish a systematic description of either ego or body-ego: our knowledge is insufficient'. This self-administered absolution should be read in conjunction with a comment to be found on the next page, where à propos what he claims to be a 'metapsychological innovation', namely his concept of 'demi-institutions' in the ego proper, he cheerfully admits that he has disregarded 'most of the