Some Freudian Contributions to the Paranoia Problem

In an article by dr. A. maeder of Zurich, “Analyses of Two Cases of Dementia Praecox (Paranoid Form)”,1 the author presents two interesting analyses showing the mental mechanisms in the paranoid form of dementia praecox. The reader should remember that an abstract of an analysis is at best very fragmentary and often destroys the clearness of the original; it is hoped that all who are interested in following these psychological investigations may read the whole article in the German.

1. Clinical History.—Patient was born in 1869. Father died of phthisis. Mother died in 1883. One brother healthy. Patient is married and has three children, all of whom are somewhat weak physically. Wife at one time in sanitarium for pulmonary tuberculosis. As a young boy, he received an injury to the right eye from a snowball which has left a difference in pupils and spot on the cornea. He often suffers from conjunctivitis. Was bright in school. After two years in the secondary schools, he became a salesman. In 1886, he was cashier and buyer for a small store. In 1894, became bookkeeper for a mercantile establishment. His chief speculated and was discharged for shortage in his accounts. J. B. was promoted to position of chief. He had to put the business on a firm basis again and also prosecute in the courts his former chief and other members of the firm. Patient at this time was in the