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With this paper the Bernfelds contribute another chapter in their careful reconstruction of Freud's life. In April 1886, Freud opened his office, shortly after he had returned from six months' study in Paris. He married in September, and in October reported on his Parisian trip to the Viennese Physicians Society. He spoke on male hysteria and other theories of Charcot's which he had confirmed and considered valid. Unfortunately Meynert and other teachers at the medical school considered this disloyalty to the Viennese University. On another occasion Freud presented a case of male hysteria, a presentation which was met with silent hostility. This was the beginning of Freud's withdrawal from the Physicians Society and from academic life.
Freud considered this year, 'the darkest and least successful year of my life'. Two years later he broke away from Meynert openly and completely with the following observation: '… and certainly the respect for greatness, especially intellectual greatness, belongs to the best qualities of human nature, but it should take second place to the respect for facts. One need not be ashamed to admit it when one sets aside reliance on authority in favor of one's own judgment, gained by study of the facts.'