Page:The International Journal of Psycho-Analysis III 1922 1.djvu/46

 38 MICHAEL JOSEF EISLER

knowing it she took revenge on her husband for the unsatisfied excitations experienced. She kept him in check by frequent and sudden indispositions. She declined psycho-analytic treatment, which I proposed at this time, remarking that pregnancy would be a better remedy for her trouble. The whole restlessness of the young wife was now turned to this hope; in which was also evident the secret thought that the new state would offer her the desired opportunity of obtaining a respite from her obligations as a wife. The advent of the expected pregnancy found her in an intolerable frame of mind. On the one hand she very seriously and ambitiously endeavoured to prove her love for her husband and to repay his patient constancy with true affection. On the other hand her physical repugnance— her dread of cohabitation— in- \,'

creased to nausea. New symptoms appeared in a sinister sequence: hostile impulses against him who had caused her illness, trans- ference of these impulses to the expected child, and terrifying feelings as a sequel to repression. A journey taken by her husband, which she interpreted in her unconscious as his leaving her alone and helpless in ber miserable condition, led finally to the out- break of the actual illness, which her relatives could no longer overlook. One night without any external cause, either accident or feverish illness, her anxiety and despondency increased to a psychic shock which put an end to the foetal movements of which she had just previously become aware. Next day it was obvious that the child was dead. Owing to unfortunate circumstances the removal of the dead foetus was delayed several days, and only carried out when threatening symptoms arose (haemolytic icterus and sterile decomposition of the placenta). An excessive weakness and complete loss of psychic resistance followed the operation. The most trifling item in the treatment was used neurotically. Gynaecological examinations induced almost deUrious states of excitation. A therapeutic and painfully strict dietary provoked loss of appetite. When endeavours were made to combat this loss of appetite in consequence of her increasing weakness, vomiting was always the result. Haemorrhages from the uterus occurred for which the gynaecologist could find no organic cause. These haem- orrhages bore the character of an excessive menstruatio praecox, and aU symptoms indicated that the chief motive of the illness, the neurotic anxiety in respect to sexual intercourse which was again in prospect, had provoked this condition; for the excessive