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7 April 1911, Vienna, IX. Berggasse 19
Dear friend,
A bit of news that will be no more distasteful to you en route than later in case your post should be forwarded. Otto Gross has turned up. He has written me a most respectful letter from Steinhof sanatorium near Vienna, with an urgent request that I publish an enclosed communication as soon as possible. It is scribbled in pencil and entitled: “In Self-Defense. Concerning the so-called Bleuler-Jung school.” It makes two accusations: that Bleuler stole the term Dementia sejunc-tiva from him and used it as a designation for schizophrenia, and that your article “The Significance of the Father, etc.” was derived from statements he made to you in the course of his analysis. Nothing more.
I have answered, declining to publish his piece. I told him that I have always disliked disputes over priority (complexive symptom!1), that the first item was a trifling matter of terminology, while the second involved a discovery that everyone can make for himself; that I myself never laid claim to ideas I had dropped in conversation; and that he had no need of such recriminations because his originality was recognized by all, including the two of you.
I have heard nothing further. Weimar is an excellent suggestion. What would your little great-grandfather say of our doings?
Kind regards. I wish you and your wife better weather than we are having.
Yours, FREUD
Written sidewise in the margin, with an arrow.