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December 16, 1963. BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES ON SANDOR FERENCZI (1875-1933). Sandor Lorand, M.D.
Dr. Lorand presented portions of his chapter on Ferenczi from the forthcoming book, Pioneers in Psychoanalysis, which he has written to correct distortions and inaccuracies regarding Ferenczi in Jones's biography of Freud. He reiterated that 'from 1908, when he met Freud for the first time, nearly up to the time of death, Sandor Ferenczi played a heroic part, second only to Freud, in building psychoanalysis into a branch of science'.
In his introductory remarks Dr. Lorand spoke of Ferenczi's early interest in reading. As a medical student, he became interested in psychic phenomena, including hypnosis. After his army tour of duty, he directed a service which included treatment of the prostitutes of Budapest. His interest in sexual psychology soon broadened to nervous and mental diseases and the study and treatment of neurotic difficulties. In 1900, he opened an office for the practice of neurology and psychiatry. He was a prolific writer and by 1907 had published about thirty papers. He met Freud in 1908 and from that time on they were close friends.
Ferenczi 'was recognized as an outstanding therapist, and his clinical publications and lectures on psychoanalysis attracted great attention'. Lorand mentions as especially significant Nosology of Male Homosexuality, the first description of the difference between active and passive homosexuality; On the Part Played by Homosexuality in the Pathogenesis of Paranoia; Stages in the Development of the Sense of Reality, a pioneer work in ego regression; and Thalassa: A Theory of Genitality, a 'bioanalytic' monograph that Freud considered to be his 'most brilliant achievement and the richest in thoughts'.
Dr. Lorand then discussed Ferenczi's 'active technique'. The first papers on