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velopmental history appears to be negative。 She has lived about in several different homes； the longest stay being about seven years。 In one place she was suspected of masturbation； but we were unable to get a perfectly definite statement that she was addicted to the habit。
Two years prior to the time we knew Marie she had worked up a story of adventure in which she was the heroine。 She used the telephone to call for help； stating that she stood with a revolver covering a burglar。 From this incident she gained a good deal of notoriety。 The police found there was nothing to the case and later Marie herself made a confession。 By the time we saw her this story varied somewhat from her original statement； but was still persisted in； although she must have known that we could readily trace the actual occurrence。
After Marie had continued her stories for a few weeks while attending the university they had grown so that they included night visitations in her boarding…house from the man who was said to be hounding her； she was found once more impossible to deal with and； as her work became poorer； she had to leave。 At this period it was most significant to us that in spite of her expressed desire for freedom from persecution she did not want us to look further into her case because of certain mysterious letters which would incriminate her。 We felt entirely convinced that the several reports which we received of her career in preceding years gave a satisfactory clew to her character； although we were never able to analyze the case far enough to ascertain the genetic features。 Thus it is impossible to make any summary of causative factors。
CASE 6
Summary： A thoroughly characteristic example of the type of pathological lying which led to the invention of the term pseudologia phantastica。 A young woman； well endowed physically and mentally； for years has often been indulging in extensive fabrications which have no discernible basis in advantages accruing to herself。 The peculiarities of the falsifications have given rise to much trouble for her； her family； and for many others who have been incidentally connected with the situation。 The genesis of the tendency was finally found in early experiences about which there have been much mental repression and conflict。 In the background there was also defective home control and chronic neuropathic tendencies in both parents and in their kin。
Janet B。； 19 years old； we saw first in an eastern city at the request of her parents。 There she had become involved in troubles which seemed particularly hard to unravel。 However； we were told that this was an old story with her。 A diagnosis of her mental condition was asked； and recommendations for the future。 Janet had told some very peculiar stories at her place of employment where she was doing very well as a newcomer； without any seeming reason for fabrication。 Several who had become interested in her were wondering if she were quite sane。
After having made her way alone to New York； Janet readily obtained employment。 After a couple of weeks she approached a department manager of the concern for which she worked and related a long story； which at once aroused his sympathy。 She told him that her father and mother had died in the last year and that she was entirely dependent upon herself。 When she was about four years of age she had been in a terrible accident and a certain man had saved her life。 Naturally； her father had always thought very highly of this person and had pensioned him。 Formerly he lived up in the country with his family； but at present was old； penniless； and alone in the city。 Now that her parents were dead she was in a quandary about keeping up her father's obligation to the old man。 Out of her 8 a week it was hard to make both ends meet。 She had to pay her own board and for this man also。 She found that he needed to be taken care of in every way； she had to wash his face and dress him； he was so helpless。 She made no demand for any increase of salary and the story was told evidently without any specific intent。 The services of a social worker were enlisted by the firm and the girl reiterated the same story to her； even though it was clearly intended that the case should be investigated。 Janet's boarding…house was visited and there she was found to be living with distant relatives whom she had searched out upon her arrival in the city。 They knew she had run away from home and； indeed； by this time the mother herself was already in New York； having been sent for by them。
The situation then became more complicated through the girl's giving more explanatory details to the social worker； somewhat accusing her own family。 It was at this time I first saw her。 She then acknowledged that this story of a man who had saved her life was purely an invention。 Now she stated that in the western town where she lived she had been engaged to a young man who was discovered to be a defaulter and who had recently died。 When this fellow was in trouble； his mother； while calling on Janet's family； used to make signals to her and leave notes under the table cover； asking for funds with which to help him out。 This was a great strain upon Janet and even more so was his death。 She could stand it no longer and fled the city。 Her lover's stealing was a secret which she had kept from her own family。
Before we had become acquainted with the true facts about the family this girl gave us most extensive accounts of various phases of her home life which included the most unlikely and contradictory details。 For instance； they had a large house with beautiful grounds； yet before she left home she bought a sewing machine for her mother； which she is paying for on weekly installments。 Her 8 a week is very little for her to live on because she is paying this indebtedness。 Janet wishes now to take out a twenty year endowment policy in favor of her mother。 Her brothers and sister are all very bright； she tells us； but she has never been particularly close to any member of her family except her mother。 The others always remind her that they are better educated than she is。 She expects to take up French and Spanish in the evenings because they would be very helpful to her commercially。 She does not care to grow up； prefers simple enjoyments； and has no desire for social affairs。 She is only desirous of improving her education。 She relates her success as a Sunday School teacher。 She thinks at times she is very nervous； and especially when she was in the high school she showed signs of it。 Then she used to stutter much； but of late she has been able to control this。
At another time； very glibly and without the slightest show of emotion； she continues with her story。 Tells of frequent fainting spells when she goes from one attack into another。 She has not had them just recently； but she used to have them at home。 Tells us now that her mother has been very sick and she has been worrying much about her。 She wanted to send money to her and help support her。 ‘It's awfully hard on one to know your mother is terribly sick and to think you can't reach her if anything should happen。'' （It is to be reme