Delboeuf and Janet as influences in Freud's treatment of Emmy von N

An analysis is made of Freud's treatment of the patient known as Emmy von N. in which for the first time he used what he called "Breuer's technique of investigation under hypnosis." It is shown that the main component of Freud's therapy owed nothing to Breuer: the patient's traumatic memories were altered by direct suggestion under hypnosis. The abreaction which did take place seems to have resulted from Freud's expectation that it should occur. Two cases published by Delboeuf and Janet in late 1888 and early 1889 were treated by a then unusual method which analysis demonstrates to have been virtually identical to the technique used by Freud. Evidence is presented that the Delboeuf and Janet cases could have been known to Freud before he began his treatment of Emmy von N.