up, owing to the exciting life here, is a problem next day, whining,
ill-tempered ... and in her case there is no question of anything genital
at all. Peter goes to bed far too late. Here in the Cottage he'd be bedded
by 6 or 6: 30 ... and in Orgonon he was often up until ten. I'd play
the heavy parents about sleep if I were you. Self-regulation be damned
sometimes ... today is very cold; Zoe wanted to go out in her thin
frock. Ena said no; must wear overalls. Anger, tears, but Ena insisted
and put on the warm things.
I don't like to challenge the greatest authority on human nature in the
world, but I think that no behaviour is "nothing but." I think that if
Pete could have his real Erika in bed with him AND still sat up late,
he'd still show signs of problemicity. It is nice and easy to write that,
knowing that the great man isn't going to lay down his glass of Bourbon
and argue the head off me.
Using the small Akku a lot with kids' sores with marvellous results.
Still puzzled about having an Akku in a room. Do the orgones, concen
trated in the box, stray out into the room? A most important point to
me, for mine is here by my desk all day.
Our love to you all. I got both your letters. Come off it, Reich. I won't
have this depression. Of course you are in a desert, but a desert has
some protection; enemies suffer from heat and thirst.
- • •
Forest Hills, N ew York
December I4, I94 8
My dear Neill:
I have yours of December I2th. I am glad you discovered the
healing effects of orgone energy. I only ask myself why it was not
discovered by you some 3 years ago?
In regard to Peter's situation, I must continue to argue with you. Of
course, lack of sleep will make a child nervous, but we know perfectly
well that the child will hesitate to go to sleep, will even develop a
sleeplessness if his biosystem is frustrated, that is, excited sexually with
out being satisfied. In Peter's case it was quite obvious and clear that
he began to stay up late when his genital excitation began to disturb
him. Old Ferenczi* said that Schlaflosigkeit [sleeplessness] is Beischlaf-
* Sandor Ferenczi, psychoanalyst, and member of Freud's inner circle.