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27 January 1910
Vienna, IX. Berggasse 19
Dear Dr. Jones,
Your letter would have been worthy of a faster reply, but there was too much work this week.1—If I must use these characters I may as well write in English and you will understand me much better. My handwriting has deteriorated so very much since the American trip.
Let me first answer to your scientific questions:
If I still hold to non sexual nervosism?—No, I only used this as a non prejudicial name. I think, it is the same in its essence, the sexual mechanism having become attacked by a non sexual agent. But the fact is, I have made no inquiry since then, when I used to see much more patients however superficially, and so you are free to examine and to rebuild the matter as you can.
What with Neurasthenia? No I have not changed my mind about it, but I can give no better knowledge than I did at that time, as cases of N. did not submit themselves to Psychoanalysis. All this matter of N. has to be revised thoroughly. I still believe it to be an actuality-neurosis, the symptoms not determined by complexes but the immediate effect of intoxication (or the like) but I guess the psychical moment in N. has been underrated and wants to be introduced to a big amount into the patho-genesis of the discase.
Sure there are cases of N. with no anxiety at all, mostly of pollutional origin, but not very frequent, best in very young people.
As for exhaustion you must apply to analysis. I trust you will find it does not differ essentially from Neurasthenia. But rather dont ask me.
I am very glad you are doing so excellent work, are coming along in a very satisfactory way with Brill and I find your article on “Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy”2 is splendid and just the thing we want to put these Americans into the right position towards our work. The same is the case with Brills paper on my conception of Hysteria.3 You ought not to leave off to keep together. Putnam is very nice, a true soul he seems. As for Morton Prince I am glad to