Page:Jung - The psychology of dementia praecox.djvu/14

x followed by anything else, and in spite of her long wait, he never gave her another confidential heart to heart talk, she tried "to push it out of her mind."

After this analysis there was some improvement, the subjective sensation became weaker, though it had not entirely disappeared, manifesting itself whenever she became excited. The persistence of this symbol was due to the fact that besides the main trauma it also represented many side traumas, so that it was necessary to analyze all episodes connected with the main scene. It finally disappeared, only to be replaced by another subjective odor "like the smoke of a cigar." As ungratifying as this was an immediate attempt was made to analyze it. When asked to recall the circumstances of the origin of this sensation she was at first unable to do so, remarking that the odor could be constantly perceived in the house, but finally under concentration she saw a picture of a table scene. It was in the dining room at dinner, where besides the usual company there was a guest, the chief accountant of the firm, an old gentleman who was a frequent visitor and who loved the children as though they were his grand-children. While taking leave the visitor attempted to kiss the children when the host cried out, "Please don't kiss the children." "I then experienced a stitch in the heart, and as they were smoking this odor remained in my memory."

This therefore was the second scene causing the trauma and leaving the memory symbol. But why was this scene so affective? On analysis it was found that it preceded the burned pastry by about two months. It was not, however, obvious why she should have been so affected when the old gentleman was prevented from kissing the children. She stated that the father objected to strangers kissing the children, and that a few months before this episode a lady visited the house and on leaving kissed the children. At that time the father said nothing to the lady, but afterwards upbraided her for permitting it, saying that if it ever happened again he would entrust the bringing up of his children to some one else. This happened while she believed herself loved and soon expected a second confidential talk. This episode shattered all her hopes because if he could reproach her for a thing of which she was perfectly innocent he could not entertain any feeling for her. This painful incident was