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Vienna, Tuesday, 7 P.M.
October 15, 1883
My beloved Marty
Your sweet letter of congratulation found me at the Journal speculating on how to pin down and improve the Method. Probably the whole of next week will be spent on further experiments after careful preparation. Today I am going to show Breuer the specimens during consulting hours. I have no doubt that I have got the thing although just recently it has been behaving rather capriciously. However, behind such whims of nature there usually lurks a chance of learning more. I am thinking of changing my working hours by taking a course with Ultzmann1 from eleven to twelve instead of the one with Urbantschitsch2 from four to five, thus leaving the afternoon free for my own work. Also for the pupil, if only she would come, for I already see with horror the day approaching when etc., etc.
Today is the sixteenth monthly memorial of our engagement and an especially affectionate greeting is due to the sweet girl whose letters have continually grown better and cleverer and nobler, although she herself has always possessed these qualities. Darling Martha, until now we have been in the ascent, haven't we? and have more and more reason to be pleased with each other. Which is why we can look forward confidently to the following month; it was only a month ago that I had to complain, but today this seems almost forgotten.
What my work, for which you so sweetly wish me luck, consists of, I cannot tell you without a terribly long explanation. One thing, however, I can divulge: it has to do with a method for the chemical treatment of the brain. Clear? No.
Well, “as is well known,” the brain must first of all be hardened (in spirits, for instance) and then finely sliced in order to show