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14 June 1907, Vienna, IX. Berggasse 19
Dear colleague,
Good news that Geneva is taking up the cause. Claparède and Flournoy have always shown a friendly attitude in their journal. I am very glad to learn that they are planning to call attention to your work in a detailed article. I am sure to benefit by it too.
Only today I have received a book by a man who certainly deserves his name, On the Psychology and Therapy of Neurotic Symptoms by A. Muthmann.1 It is subtitled “A Study based on Freud's theory of neuroses.” M. was an assistant in Basel. It can't be an accident; the Swiss seem indeed to have more personal courage than free German subjects. The book is good, fine case histories, excellent cures, dignified and modest; I have hopes that the man will become a staunch collaborator. He still lacks perspective, he treats discoveries2 made in 1893 in the same way as the most recent developments, and he doesn't say one word about the transference.
As for the journal, I am taking you at your word. The need for it will become more and more apparent to you; there should be no lack of readers. We mustn't delay too long, let's say autumn 1908 for the first number.
Of course you have hit the nail on the head with what you say about your ambulatory cases. What with their habits and mode of life, reality is too close to those women to allow them to believe in fantasies. If I had based my theories on the statements of servant girls, they would all be negative. And such behaviour fits in with other sexual peculiarities of that class; well-informed persons assure me that these girls are much less diffident about engaging in coitus than about being seen naked. Fortunately for our therapy, we have previously learned so much from other cases that we can tell these persons their story without having to wait for their contribution. They are willing to confirm what we tell them, but one can learn nothing from them.
Too bad that my case with the teacup is not yet complete, it might throw