It is not without much hesitation and diffidence that I stand here to open your discussion on psycho-analysis, because I am merely one of Freud's disciples, and quite unworthy of assuming the role of an apostle of the psychology for which that great man—in my opinion the greatest psychologist who has ever lived—is entirely responsible.

By the majority of individuals, and even of medical men, homo sexuality has simply been regarded as a disgusting perversion which merits no further interest or investigation. This disgust and revolt of the moral sense is explained by Freud as due in great part to the existence in the ordinary mind of a homosexual component of the sex instinct, which finds indirect expression in condemnation of homosexuality in others, in the same way as the repression of the sexual instinct in the prude expresses itself in the condemnation of normal sexual activity. This idea seems to be confirmed by the great tolerance of homosexuality we see in some countries where sex repression is also much lessened. We must bear in mind that man is not the purely reasoning individual he deludes himself he his, and it is certain that he is largely swayed by unconscious emotional forces which warp his thought and action. The student of science is by no means an exception, and we should do well when new theories come before us, and controversy is apt to be rife, to dip thoughtfully into the chapters on the psychology of belief.

Sadism is conceived as including anything from an impetuous attitude towards the sexual object to the stage in which sexual gratification is exclusively dependent upon the complete subjection and ill-treatment of the sexual victim.

In dealing with the subject of psycho-analysis I do not desire to be critical for the mere sake of criticism, but with regard to the work of Freud I might begin with a word of personal explanation.

The question, “What is the efficacy of psycho-analysis in the treatment of the psychoses?” recalls to one's mind the problem of the utility of surgical procedures as a remedy for cancer. For in both we have to deal with an ætiological factor that is still obscure.

[The discussion on psycho-analysis at the Annual General Meeting at Buxton, July, 1920 (see pp. 104 to 123), revealed some confusion of views as to what “Freudism” really means. We have thought it would be helpful, therefore, to include in this number a statement from Prof. Freud himself on the genesis and meaning of the “Libido Theory.” We are able to do so by the kindness and courtesy of Dr. Ernest Jones, the Editor of the ‘International Journal of Psycho-Analysis,’ from which Journal (vol. i, pt. i, 1920) this article is reprinted.—Eds.]

The present paper is intended to furnish an account of the unfortunate class of case whose mental disorder, stated and considered to be due to war service, has been such as to necessitate certification and prolonged detention in mental hospitals.