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1918
331A
Allenstein
6 January 1918
Dear Professor,
Many thanks for your two letters and for complying with my wish concerning Krauss [sic]! I did gather from your first letter that you found it difficult to come to a decision, but I did not doubt for a moment that you would in fact write to K., and it was therefore unnecessary to set my mind at rest with the second letter! I am very sorry that my request made you feel so uncomfortable. Perhaps we shall both be rewarded by a favourable result!
There is nothing new to report from here. Today I received the reprints of the trifle about “Spending of Money in Anxiety States”.1 My work on the Habilitation progresses slowly. On the scientific front, I might mention that I am getting interesting results from the analysis of a case of obsessional brooding, which will be suitable for publication later (addenda to the anal-sadistic aetiology).2
I am enclosing with this letter the promised review of Pötzl.3 I am very disappointed with the paper. The author's attitude to Ψα is ambivalent, in that he agrees with everything theoretically but, at the same time, robs the concepts of their real content; thus his acceptance becomes meaningless, and in practice he is very far from using the method. I have therefore written a review that is moderate in tone but unequivocally unfavourable. Has P. become a member in the meantime? After this paper I should find that difficult to understand.
I am very sorry to hear that Rank is not well. Sachs on the other hand seems to be in top form. As soon as there are real hopes of peace, I feel personally ready for anything, and I already have a number of plans for a scientific get-together! That does not mean to say that the war years have passed me by without trace. Just like everyone else, I have lost some of my vigour, hair pigmentation, and weight. But I hope for a quick regeneration and not for myself alone!
Since you do not mention any details about your family, I assume that you are all well, includin