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This paper collates what is known about the person, life and work of Felix Gattel, a German-American who later lived in Berlin. Part I: In mid-1897 Gattel was in Vienna and had Freud assign him the task of testing statistically the supposed sexual aetiology of neurasthenia and anxiety neurosis. His published work was harshly criticized, basically in covert opposition to Freud. One passage, including an outline of an actual analysis, deals with hysteria and is based on the seduction theory. It proves that the latter was inconsistent with a psychodynamic view and the acknowledgement of spontaneous infantile sexuality. Part II: Gattel was drawn into the scientific and social crisis of Freud in 1897. An academic outsider, Freud attempted to tie his first pupil to him by personal means (joint holiday trip). The younger man responded to the elder's impetuous imperiousness with dependency and rebellion. At the time, Freud was trying out two models of obtaining pupils: academic teaching and therapy. He learned from his experience with Gattel that the former approach was inappropriate for psychoanalysis.