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Vienna, 14 April 1907
Dear colleague,
You see, my view of our relationship is shared by the world at large. Shortly before your visit, I was asked to give that report in Amsterdam. I declined in haste for fear that I might talk it over with you and
let you persuade me to accept. Then we found more important things to talk about and the matter was forgotten. Now I am delighted to hear that you have been chosen. But when I was invited, Aschaffenburg was not to be the other speaker; two were mentioned, Janet1 and a native. Apparently a duel was planned between Janet and myself, but I detest gladiatorial fights in front of the noble rabble and cannot easily bring myself to put my findings to the vote of an indifferent crowd;2 but my chief reason is that I am eager to hear nothing of science for a few months and to restore my sorely maltreated organism through all sorts of extra-curricular pleasures. Now you will have to measure yourself with Aschaffenburg. I recommend ruthlessness; our opponents are pachyderms, you must reckon with their thick hides.
And in another connection as well I must welcome you as my successor. I had been meaning to speak to you of the case I saw in Görlitz at Easter. Now I hear that he is being sent to you at the Burghölzli, and that you wish information about him from me. Accordingly, I shall write to his father that I am in direct contact with you and report to you on what I have seen. You will find the boy interesting; he will probably derive little benefit from us and we a great deal from him; and above all, he is the first case we shall both have been able to observe directly. I am curious to know whether you will confirm my contention that it is not Dem. pr. but began with obsession and is continuing as hysteria; I have several times observed this reverse development and I am curious to know what your association experiments will have to say of my diagnosis. He is a highly gifted individual, an Oedipus type, loves his mother, hates his