Note AS — Chapter XVI · ANAESTHESIA

One of the author’s patients, Mr. X., in his struggle against the habit, while a student in college, vowed never to fall back into the habit. As a reminder of this vow, he wrote upon a piece of cardboard the celebrated words of Darius, “μέμνησο τοῦ ὅρκου,” and hung it up over the desk. One day a college-friend, Mr. Y., came to see him and noticed the Greek sentence. Mr. Y. asked his host what kind of a vow he has taken. When he received no satisfactory answer Mr. Y. said: “I know the nature of your vow. It was that you will never masturbate again. But you did it in spite of your solemn oath.” This correct guess shows that Mr. Y. had the same struggle on his hands as his friend Mr. X.