The dissociation of a personality : a biographical study in abnormal psychology / by Morton Prince.

  • Morton Prince
Date:
1913
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The dissociation of a personality : a biographical study in abnormal psychology / by Morton Prince. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Leeds Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Leeds Library.

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    [From IV, Sept. 1, 1000.] “. . . From your beginning to hypnotize me last Friday until your coming to-day I remember but two things: One, leaning forward in a carriage in order to read a note (Sally’s) by the light of the street lamp. The other, tearing off a lot of coverings (flannel, etc.) which seemed to be burning my chest. Neither of these tilings could have occupied more than five minutes at the very most, and all before and after, until your coming, is blank. Can you won- der that I was surprised to see you ? puzzled to know what had brought you? and bitterly, bitterly, disappointed that you should have failed again in your attempt to help me? I was rude, perhaps. I seem to be always that with you. But you do not know how very hard I find it to understand you. One should have learned something in a year, yet I confess, freely, that you puzzle me just as much as at first. I can see no earthly reason for your saying that you can help me, can make me wdiole, if it is beyond your power to do so. I do not believe that it is. I think that you are sincere, ]ierfectly sin- cere, and that you can make me whole. Yet you do not. Every time you hypnotize me, greater blanks1 are produced in my memory. I am put to all sorts of shifts aud pretences to save myself from open sneers aud ridicule. Can’t you see how very hard it makes things for one? And won’t you, if you can, tell me wherein I am lacking? What must I do? How co-oper- ate with you to gain the good you prophesy ? I cannot, I will not, endure this existence another year. “ Do not misinterpret what I have written, Dr. Prince, and believe me, “ Sincerely and penitently,” [Oct. 8, 1900. Forged letter (by Sally) from me to B I. ] “My dear Miss Beauchamp: When you have learned self-control and can behave like a rational being I shall be glad to do what I can for you. At present all my effort is worse than wasted because of your attitude of hostility. I do not wish to spend valuable time in this manner.” 1 The “blanks ” referred to were either B I or the new (completely fused) self.
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