t the suppressed
sexual emotions at the breaking of the engagement were the primary
cause of the disease. The similarity of the first customer together
with the tactual sensations had evidently touched that complex and
brought the suppressed emotion to an explosion which frequently
takes the form of palpitation and similar symptoms. Later the mere
tactual sensation alone produced by the contact with the hand of a
man, possibly with a similar optical impression, perhaps also with
the sound of the voice, brought back the reaction. Instead of
giving treatment, I insisted that she change stores, and become
saleswoman in a house where she would have to do only with women,
and to sell articles which did not bring her into personal contact
with customers. After more than six months of work in her new
place, she reported that the attacks had not come back again.

Of course it may readily be acknowledged that this method does not allow
a sharp demarcation line between its various factors. It cannot be
denied that an element of straight suggestion may be included. The man
whom I train in the forming of a new antagonistic motor response feels
it of course all the time also as a silent suggestion to overcome the
old disturbance. It is thus to a certain degree impossible to say where
the effect of the discharge ends and where that of the hidden suggestion
begins. Yet there certainly cannot be any doubt that this revival of the
first experience and its improved discharge works directly towards the
removal of the troublesome symptom.

Abnormal fear is also the essential factor in most cases of stammering.
The patients usually know it themselves. For instance, a lawyer writes
to me:

"I have been a stammerer the greater part of my life and have
visited every stammering school in the country, but the relief
obtained has been temporary and in most cases I was not benefited
at all. I am convinced that stammering is due wholly to an abnormal
mental condition, which consists of an unreasoning fear that takes
possession of the individual when he attempts to utter certain
sounds. It is simply a lack of confidence inspired by numberless
failures to articulate properly and is not caused by any organic
trouble, because, taking my own case for example, I can at times
talk as fluently and easily as anyone. I am firmly convinced that