1From the Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 1914, Vol. IX. Nos. 2 and 3, Richard G. Badger, Publisher. Also described in The Meaning of Dreams, by Dr. Isador EL Coriat, 1915, pp. 173 ff. Boston, Little, Brown & Co, that if she were sick the family labour would be taken away from her and she could play again; if she became blind she would not see the unpleasant surroundings nor the children of whom she was jealous. Doubtless, she had no actual wish that she become so ill as to be so much of an invalid as she proved to be, but the conflict assumed the upper hand. While a trained medical psychologist like Coriat might be able to have a good understanding of the nature of the little girl's troubles without resorting to a study of her dreams, the latter proved of great usefulness both in demonstrating the cause of and the way to cure her maladies. In her dreams she saw the children of her household disposed of in various ways, revealing her jealousy of them, and her desire to have them out of the way. From her dreams it was also learned that she liked to be at school and at play. She was forbidden to go to school, to play, to read, etc., until such a time as her sight should be restored. Realizing that nothing was to be gained by continued illness, she soon recovered her sight and her nervous troubles disappeared.

Dr. Brill,1 of New York, had as a patient a young lady who would be diagnosed as a neurasthenic. She was depressed, ate poorly, saw no object in living, smiled sadly, and was averse to talking about her troubles. Asked if she dreamed she, like many other persons, replied in the negative. However, though incredulous as to the value of dream analysis in aiding her recovery, she managed to bring the following dream:

I dreamed that I was in a lonely country place and was anxious to reach my home, but could not get there. Every time I made a move there was a wail in the way

1 Psychanalysis, 1914, pp. 48-54. Saunders Co.

- it looked like a street full of walls. My legs were as heavy as lead; I could only walk very slowly as if I were very weak or very old. Then there was a flock of chickens, but that seemed to he in a crowded city street, and they - the chickens - ran after me, and the biggest of all said something like "Come with me into the dark."

To the dreamer this dream seemed very nonsensical; however, an analysis of it revealed many interesting facts. For instance, when asked to tell what came to her mind in association with the word chicken she said that she remembered only the biggest chicken in the dream; the other chickens appeared blurred. This chicken was unusually big, had a long neck, and spoke to her. The street in which she saw it recalled the place where she used to go to school, and the block was always crowded with school children. She then recalled her happy school days, and a beau who was lanky and thin and who had a long neck. Her girl friends would say to her when they saw him: "Belle, here comes your chicken." Thus, the chicken of the dream symbolized her girlhood sweetheart.

Further study showed that she had kept up an acquaintance with this sweetheart and that he had asked her to marry him three times. She had always refused because she was not sure she loved him. She had decided to accept him the next time he proposed but he had not proposed again. Shortly before becoming ill she had been told that he was courting another young lady. The obstacle to her accepting him had been a matter of money, symbolized by the street full of walls (Wall Street). "Come with me into the dark" meant a wish for another proposal, marriage, the latter signifying to her, mystery, secrecy. Briefly, her illness was caused by her brooding; unconscious fears lest her lover make no further effort to win her. This fact her dream revealed plainly, and once the dream was explained the lady understood it very well. By means of the same dream she was convinced that she really loved her former suitor. A cure of her ills, as well as a happy marriage, soon followed.

In the treatment of terrifying dreams and nervous disorders due to or aggravated by war conditions, study of the patient's dreams has proved of great utility. Thus, Captain Culpin1 reports a number of examples. He believes that the men who suffered from "war dreams" - in which great terror was always present - had been trying to forget incidents of an emotional tone which were repugnant to their feelings. The emotional elements that had been repressed appeared in dreams, however, though the incidents with which they were connected might appear in symbolic form, and the emotion of the dream be the only true or undisguised part of the dream. Once the repressed memories are brought to consciousness the distressing dreams and other troubles disappear. As Culpin remarks, it may be difficult for many of us to understand how, by merely bringing to mind repressed disagreeable incidents, a cure can be effected; however, clinical experience amply demonstrates that this actually occurs.

In Culpin's cases no effort was made to analyse the dreams thoroughly. He had his patients relate their dreams to him, asked a few questions about the dreams, and explained what repression meant. Questioning alone would reveal the repressed memory if it were not too deeply embedded in the mind; in such cases, by getting the patient to talk about the incident cure was quickly effected. This method, which he terms "free association," was not often successful. Next, he asked the patient to close his eyes and visualize the dream, an attempt being made to discover the portion causing terror. By dwelling on the latter feature an emotional state was produced, and as the repressed memory came up the patient often became greatly excited. A scrap of a dream sufficed, even the words said in the dream, or the emotion felt on awaking. This method he calls "sleep association." While a thorough analysis of the dream is advisable, inasmuch as this is apt to give the best results, the method employed by Culpin might prove useful when extensive analysis is impracticable. To apply dream analysis successfully a thorough knowledge of normal and abnormal psychology is, of course, indispensable.

1 Practitioner, London, March, 1919.

The following are two examples selected from Culpin's cases:

Dream. On a bombing raid: captured by Germans. Terror!

Open association negative.

Bleep association. He gave a story of going over the top and being captured and in fear of death. The story was on elaboration of the dream, but he told it as if it were true. I held him to the fear of being killed, and suddenly there came up the true story, viz., the raid ended in the enemies' trenches, the Germans would not come out of their dug-outs, and our men bombed them. The patient felt considerable emotion at the time, and the revival reproduced it. At the next interview all was forgotten, including the dream, and my account of the episode urns not recognized. Sleep association led to a repetition of the dream three times before I could get the true story. At the end of treatment the story could be told without emotion.

Patient was a pre-war psychasthenic, with a fear of being followed, fear of water, tics, and not enough confidence to do his own shopping. Nevertheless, he had served three years in France in the R.A.M.C. He had a recurring dream for years of being chased by some one big who caught him; he kicked his captor but could not hurt him; and the latter then beat him.

No questions were asked nor was any explanation given, but he was sent to talk to the dreamer of No. 14. At the next interview he said he felt his dream must be like the other man's, but he could not recall anything. Being told that he could, he suddenly covered his face with his hands and showed extreme terror, refusing to tell what had come up. At last the following story was obtained. He went skating contrary to his mother's orders, and one boy fell through the ice and was drowned. The others ran home and said nothing; next day a policeman came to the house, and the boy bolted and was caught by the policeman, whom he kicked, and who hit him with a cane. The policeman took him home, and he received a beating from his mother. At the inquest the coroner first upraided him and then told him to forget. Incredible as it may seem to one unfamiliar with repression, the patient had completely forgotten the incident.

While there is much criticism relative to the theories on which the psycho-analytic method is based and applied, if we are to judge by the published case reports, the method has proved useful in the treatment of various nervous disorders not dependent upon organic disease. And any method which will "minister to a mind diseased, pluck from the memory a rooted sorrow, cleanse the stuff'd bosom of that perilous stuff that weighs upon the heart" deserves attention. However, since psycho-analysis is the fad of the day, it is hoped that the reader will not conclude that it is a panacea, and that it is superior to all other forms of treatment; as a matter of fact, many nervous troubles can be removed more simply and with less time and money expenditure than this method usually requires. Should one resort to it, then he should be sure that he consults one who is well trained, for much harm can be done by an embryo psycho-analyst.

It might be mentioned that many medical psychologists study their patients' dreams, though they do not all regard them as of such importance as the Freudian school. Those of us who fail to understand how dream analysis can be helpful may look upon it merely as a clue to the cause of the nervous disorder. Dreams are free thoughts, and if there is anything upon the mind to oppress it, it is apt to make an appearance in dreams, for as Shakespeare says, "Infected minds to their deaf pillows do discharge their secrets." Since the dream is reminiscent, and since the experience which may be the cause of the nervousness may have occurred long ago, the dream is a good place to look for clues to those parts of the mental life which are in a state of turmoil. Obviously, an understanding of the causes and cure of nervous disorders requires much education and training: therefore, it would be folly for any one who has not this education to attempt to treat these affections, by dream analysis or not.