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366F
Vienna IX, Berggasse 19
15 December 1919
Dear Friend,
Thank you for your congratulations! The wedding was a small family affair and passed off very well. The young couple have taken up life's struggle after scarcely three days of isolation.
Your contribution on the omnipotence of excreta1 amused me greatly. After all, they really are creations, just as ideas and wishes are. At the same time I read something on the interpretation of dreams at the subjective level,2 and once again had a strong impression of what a superfluous addition that is to the understanding of dreams. Naturally one destroys the father only because he is the “inner” father, that is, has significance for one's own mental life.
Rank has sent a telegram from London. At last! But, as he had to waste a whole week in Holland waiting for his entry permit, he will probably come back by the shortest route on a children's train3 (before Christmas) without touching Berlin. I have therefore to report that he is definitely against Berlin and still favours Holland in the autumn. I do not even know whether that will be possible. There is no question of any improvement in communications. (Your letter of the 7th reached me today, the 15th.)
Freund's abdominal metastasis, microscopic examination of which showed the same sarcoma as had been removed from the testicle, was liquefied; it was evacuated and drained. A radium capsule has now been inserted through the drainage tube. He knows everything; he has, for instance, directed that the ring he wears is to be restored to me after his death. He has also sensed that it is intended for Eitingon.4
As far as work is concerned, things are no better with me than with you. Only I think that in my case it is not a phase of short duration. I think I have finished with sowing and shall probably not get to the reaping.
Cavalry Captain Schmiedeberg [sic],5 who was Eitingon's guest, gave me a piece of news that is so good that I cannot believe it, namely that you are about to get a p