Letter from Sándor Ferenczi to Sigmund Freud, April 21, 1919

Internationale Psychoanalytische Vereinigung

Budapest, April 21, 1919

Dear Professor,

So much is now happening unremittingly that it's all one can do to summarize everything briefly.

1. First, Toni's case.

   We just called in an adept surgeon, who suspects a small kidney stone and is having a precise X ray taken; I hope that Toni will now be calmer than he otherwise seems to be. From a psychic perspective he has not manifested the exaggerated hypochondria, either during or after the attacks of pain, that he did on previous occasions. He is enthusiastically taking part in the affairs of the Society. In a word: I am very satisfied with him.

2. Affairs of the Society.

   Owing to the intervention of a friend, who has influence in such matters, we succeeded in having the decision go along very favorable lines. As soon as communications improve, the Verlag (Rank or Reik) will receive a welcome guest: the bearer of the happy tidings about the state of our scientific movement. All the trust that you have placed in the obligingness of the agents here will be justified. Certainly we will stop being your debtors, and instead you will be placed in the position of smoothly disengaging the foreign publishing entanglements and have the two funds at your independent disposal. I mean the private and the smaller fund. The decision about the big fund has not been made yet, but—since it has turned out that your name and our representation are everywhere finding open doors and the greatest cooperation, we can also be optimistic in this regard. We are eagerly awaiting news from you about the last stage of our efforts.

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   Nothing essential is now taking place in the Hungarian branch society; everyone is busy with politics; interest in science has let up somewhat.

3. Affairs of the university are also stirring. Dr. Radó was appointed an assistant at the Moravcsik Clinic, and Fräulein Dr. Révész became a regular trainee there.—