"From the Unconscious to the Conscious 



same time, the more liable it becomes to disease. One 

 of the diseases of the brain is automatism, or the appear- 

 ance of the subconscious. And this subconsciousness, 

 instead of being a trouble to the mind, is often a ferment 

 of creation, when it is not itself creation.' 



A curious disease, which, instead of being a cause 

 of ' trouble ' and of diminution to the individual, 

 increases his capacities and powers! 



Lombroso, for his part, boldly invokes madness. 



Others define differently, they reduce talent and 

 genius to arthritism. But the record in this respect is 

 held up to the present by Dr Pascal Serph. 1 He takes 

 no half-measures and has the courage of his opinions. 

 According to him the origin of genius is looked for 

 much too far away genius is purely and simply the 

 product of ... hereditary syphilis! 



* If syphilis,' Dr Serph gravely concludes, * does the 

 harm which medical men are unanimous in recognising 

 and fearing for mankind, it nevertheless gives, as a set-off, 

 by its hypertrophic action on the brain, the possibility 

 of perfecting human action, and being thus creative 

 of the special ideas of genius, it compensates to some 

 extent for its ravages.' 



It is scarcely possible to restrain some impatience 

 when men of science maintain such theories, and one 

 feels a certain disgust at having to refute ideas which 

 deserve only contempt. 



It is, however, necessary to do this. 



Let us remark, in the first place, that among the 

 various morbid factors invoked, one only neuropathy 

 seems to be coincident with facts, if not supported 

 by them. 



It is true that men of great talent or genius are 

 almost invariably neuropathic. But what is neuro- 

 pathy ? 



Medical science does not know. Neuroses, and 



1 Gazelle Medicate de Paris, July 12, 1916. 



108 



