208 



THE SEX-COMPLEX 



Stimuli however, to classify these alienations on a psycho- 



sexual 8 logical basis, but, rather, from a physical point of 



psychoses and view. 



neuroses. , 



In describing the reproductive psychoses and 

 neuroses we might classify our subject according to the 

 period of reproductive life during which such disturb- 

 ances may arise ; but such a classification would lead to 

 much repetition. It will be better, therefore, briefly 

 to consider the mental and nervous disturbances with 

 regard to the actual cause to which they are due — 

 that is to say, to excessive ovarian secretion, to 

 deficient ovarian secretion, and to the metabolic dis- 

 turbances associated with menstruation, gestation and 

 lactation respectively. 



I shall make no attempt to describe in detail the 

 performances and mentalizations associated with the 

 psychical disorders under discussion ; I shall merely 

 give an indication of the mental tendency. Meanwhile, 

 it must not be forgotten that specific mental diseases 

 may themselves affect the genital functions — an aspect 

 of the subject, about which we know practically nothing, 

 except in a general way. 



In the consideration of all questions concerning 

 psychical derangements it must be remembered that a 

 neuropathic history is an important factor both in 

 regard to the onset of the derangement, to the gravity 

 of the mental disturbance, and to the prognosis. 



Neuropathic 

 history im- 

 portant. 



Excessive 

 ovarian 



during 



precocious 



puberty. 



Excessive Ovarian Secretion. — Psychoses and 

 secTeUon pro- ^ euroses commonly arise at puberty, even when this 

 supervenes at the normal time ; consequently it may be 

 assumed in those instances in which we find these dis- 

 orders commencing at this epoch that in some way the 

 awakening of the genital functions is accountable for 

 them. Since we have no other way of expressing it, we 

 must say that for the girl so affected the ovarian 

 secretion is the exciting cause : there is excessive 

 stimulation by the hormone of the genital glands, which 

 leads to some derangement of the nervous system. 



