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Variant, v. 1, issue 3, September 1947
Page 44
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given thirty days to make up his mind to join the Comrades of the Torch, as they call themselves, or die. But Fortune escapes after learning their plans, and through his efforts the leaders of the revolt are captured. Alda, the daughter of Wolff, who had promised Fortune power and wealth, becomes jealous of Mary, however, and insists that she be put to death by burning at the stake with Zorn. By this time Fortune is not very proud of what he has done, and realizes that he is causing the death of the woman he loves. At the trial of Zorn and Mary, he speaks up for them, and denounces Wolff and the Tower people, and is promptly imprisoned for his troubles. While in prison he learned that the power of Zorn is far reaching, and one day he is mysteriously freed and taken to the Isle of the Great Woman once more, where he discovers that Mary has also been rescued from prison. Then he takes command of the army of the Folk and trains it in the use of arms for the day when they shall strike for their freedom. Zorn continues to direct all activities from his prison cell. Finally the great day arrives. It is the day set for the execution of Zorn. Suddenly, before the fire is lit about Zorn, a brilliant light is seen from the miraculously raised arm of the Great Woman. The Torch is once more lighted! Wolff falls dead of a heart attack, and word is brought of the attack by the army of the Folk. After a terrific battle, in which Fortune's army uses cannon for the first time in centuries (rediscovered by an eccentric hunchback, one Tringe) The Tower army is defeated, Wolff's tower is taken and at last men are free again. For generations men had believed in the legend of the Torch. The ancient statue in the harbor was a goddess, one arm holding a book clutched to her breast, the other a mere stump. Legend had it that once a torch had been held in the upraised hand, the torch of liberty. Legend had it also that when the torch would burn again, then would men be free again and the power of the Tower people broken forever. ****************************** A STATISTICAL FRAGMENT by Helen E. Cloukey This is a report on a paper published in the New York State Journal of Medicine, October 1, 1946, by Peter G. Denker, M.D. It reports a study made to compare the results of general practitioners in treating psychoneurosis with those obtained by specialists in the mental field. It took a series of 500 bases, based on 500 consecutive disability insurance claims. These were due to psychoneurosis, resulting in complete disability, inability to work at an occupation for profit. Care was taken to eliminate true psychotic or organic lesions. None received more than superficial psychotherapy, that is, treatment with sedatives, tonics, suggestion and reassurance. All of these were treated by general practitioners. The writer reviews available statistics on other series of cases, and concludes that there is no significant difference in the success obtained by general practitioners, psychiatrists or psychoanalysts. He believes that if the patients' symptoms and problems can be viewed sympathetically, if adequate time can be given for him to pour out his endless complaints, if common sense and honest reassurance are used in discussing his conflicts with him, and if there is confidence in the physician, about the same number will get well in about the same length of time. (44)
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given thirty days to make up his mind to join the Comrades of the Torch, as they call themselves, or die. But Fortune escapes after learning their plans, and through his efforts the leaders of the revolt are captured. Alda, the daughter of Wolff, who had promised Fortune power and wealth, becomes jealous of Mary, however, and insists that she be put to death by burning at the stake with Zorn. By this time Fortune is not very proud of what he has done, and realizes that he is causing the death of the woman he loves. At the trial of Zorn and Mary, he speaks up for them, and denounces Wolff and the Tower people, and is promptly imprisoned for his troubles. While in prison he learned that the power of Zorn is far reaching, and one day he is mysteriously freed and taken to the Isle of the Great Woman once more, where he discovers that Mary has also been rescued from prison. Then he takes command of the army of the Folk and trains it in the use of arms for the day when they shall strike for their freedom. Zorn continues to direct all activities from his prison cell. Finally the great day arrives. It is the day set for the execution of Zorn. Suddenly, before the fire is lit about Zorn, a brilliant light is seen from the miraculously raised arm of the Great Woman. The Torch is once more lighted! Wolff falls dead of a heart attack, and word is brought of the attack by the army of the Folk. After a terrific battle, in which Fortune's army uses cannon for the first time in centuries (rediscovered by an eccentric hunchback, one Tringe) The Tower army is defeated, Wolff's tower is taken and at last men are free again. For generations men had believed in the legend of the Torch. The ancient statue in the harbor was a goddess, one arm holding a book clutched to her breast, the other a mere stump. Legend had it that once a torch had been held in the upraised hand, the torch of liberty. Legend had it also that when the torch would burn again, then would men be free again and the power of the Tower people broken forever. ****************************** A STATISTICAL FRAGMENT by Helen E. Cloukey This is a report on a paper published in the New York State Journal of Medicine, October 1, 1946, by Peter G. Denker, M.D. It reports a study made to compare the results of general practitioners in treating psychoneurosis with those obtained by specialists in the mental field. It took a series of 500 bases, based on 500 consecutive disability insurance claims. These were due to psychoneurosis, resulting in complete disability, inability to work at an occupation for profit. Care was taken to eliminate true psychotic or organic lesions. None received more than superficial psychotherapy, that is, treatment with sedatives, tonics, suggestion and reassurance. All of these were treated by general practitioners. The writer reviews available statistics on other series of cases, and concludes that there is no significant difference in the success obtained by general practitioners, psychiatrists or psychoanalysts. He believes that if the patients' symptoms and problems can be viewed sympathetically, if adequate time can be given for him to pour out his endless complaints, if common sense and honest reassurance are used in discussing his conflicts with him, and if there is confidence in the physician, about the same number will get well in about the same length of time. (44)
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