CHAPTER III
THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE LIBIDO. A POSSIBLE SOURCE OF PRIMITIVE HUMAN DISCOVERIES
In the following pages I will endeavor to picture a
concrete example of the transition of the libido. I once
treated a patient who suffered from a depressive catatonic
condition. The case was one of only a slight introversion
psychosis; therefore, the existence of many
hysterical features was not surprising. In the beginning
of the analytic treatment, while telling of a very painful
occurrence she fell into a hysterical-dreamy state, in which
she showed all signs of sexual excitement. For obvious
reasons she lost the knowledge of my presence during this
condition. The excitement led to a masturbative act
(frictio femorum). This act was accompanied by a
peculiar gesture. She made a very violent rotary motion
with the forefinger of the left hand on the left temple,
as if she were boring a hole there. Afterwards there was
complete amnesia for what had happened, and there was
nothing to be learned about the queer gesture with her
hand. Although this act can easily be likened to a boring
into the mouth, nose or ear, now transferred to the
temple, it belongs in the territory of infantile ludus sexualis[1]—to
the preliminary exercise preparatory to sexual
activity. Without really understanding it, this gesture,
