Chapter V. Medical Career (1881-1885)

One may wonder about Freud's state of mind during the years he spent in Brücke's laboratory. They were incompatible with any plans for a future livelihood, which his poor economic situation would obviously make necessary. He could not have been oblivious of such a staring fact, and even of the high probability that it would mean some form of medical practice. But he pushed it aside as long as he could and must have had strong reasons for doing so. Two such reasons are readily to be discerned. One was his aversion to the practice of medicine, a matter that is a problem in itself. The other was his great liking for his laboratory work. This itself had more than one source. He presumably found the work itself interesting, but more important was his consistent preference for research over mere practice. To discover something new and thus add to our stock of knowledge was perhaps the strongest motive in his nature. Furthermore, there was the need to discipline himself in scientific method and thus counteract his wilder and more speculative propensities, which dear as they might be could lead him far astray if not controlled.

So he determined to continue with the congenial and disciplinary research work as long as he decently could, depending first on his father's willing support and, when this began to fail, on being helped by friends. At the same time, however, he also continued his regular medical studies and finally decided, in March, 1881, to pass the qualifying examinations. This no doubt alleviated the self-reproaches his three years' delay had been causing him, but, as we shall presently see, it brought him face to face with graver problems.

The medical qualification appeared outwardly to make no difference. Freud continued for another fifteen months to work as before in the Physiological Institute, now devoting his whole time to it. After two months he was promoted to the position of Demonstrator, one with some teaching responsibility; he held