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d a man。 Taking up the case it was soon found that this was quite untrue and that the man was a chronic liar。 He seemed much astonished when he was told that the man he claimed to have killed was still alive。 Further study of this self…accuser showed that he had been punished by the law every year since he was 16。 His offenses consisted of embezzling； theft； forgery； and swindling。 In all he had served about 6 1/2 years。 His lying was so much a part of his mental life that he seemed to be unable to discriminate between his real and his fancied crimes。 He not only invented stories； but was much inclined to play some role created by his fancy。 There seemed to be a method in his cheating and swindling which added to his undoubted pleasure in lying。 His peculiar career was much furthered by the possession of a fluent style and a good memory through which his creations were built up in most plausible fashion。 He proved to be willingly introspective and stated that his inclination to lie was a puzzle to him； and that while he was engaged in prevarications he believed in them。 He always was the hero of his own stories。 He further declared that inner unrest and love of wandering drove him forth even when he was living under orderly conditions。 He considered that his feeling of restlessness was a weighty motive in the deeds for which he had been punished。 At one time this man had simulated attacks of epilepsy and attempted in connection with these to swindle physicians and others。 His schooling had been continued to the gymnasium； ‘‘untertertia；'' then he had taken up his trade。 His intelligence and memory were considered excellent。 He had an insane brother。
Vogt＇11＇ has made a thorough analysis of six cases of pathological liars； ranging from the very stupid to the intelligent。 I。 A girl； who had done poorly in school was unable to hold a place and became a thief。 Her mother was epileptic。 Examination showed intelligence not equal to that of eight years with moral inferiority on account of this weakness。 II。 A feebleminded girl of vacillating； weak judgment。 Father insane。 Her lies were marked by their fantastic nature。 III。 Lively； fanciful； unstable； hysterical girl。 Poor record at school。 IV。 Hysterical liar with peculiarities united with splendid mental ability。 V。 Unusually intelligent； 15 years old； illegitimate child； normal mother who later had five sound children； father drunkard。 Her lies were neither of suggested nor dreamy type； they were skillfully dramatized means to an end in her fight for social position。 In the psychiatric examination she was found mentally normal。 VI。 Girl thoroughly intelligent； good at figures and puzzles； with no signs of degeneracy。
＇11＇ ‘‘Jugendliche Lugnerinnen。'' Zeitschrift fur Erforschung d。 jugend。 Schwachsinns。； Bd。 3。 H。 5。 1910； p。 465。
Vogt characterized the pathological lie as active； more elaborately constructed； more inclusive； and leaving the ground of reality more readily than ordinary lies。 Such lies he does not always find egocentric。 To the pathological liar his own creation is reality； so he walks securely； is open and amiable。 All these cases are gifted with lively imaginations and inclined to autosuggestion。 Vogt calls the pathological lie a wish psychosis。 This statement opens the way to an interesting and valuable interpretation of the psychological significance of this phenomenon of the mental life。 He finds many more girls than boys among his cases； boys lie from need of defense and protection； girls more from autosuggestion。 This type of lie is of greater interest to social than to clinical psychology。 He emphasizes the point that very refined and complicated lies appear in healthy young people in the stress of difficult situations。 Obstinate and stubborn lying of itself is no disease among children； examination must reveal that the lie has a morbid cause。
The resemblance of pathological lying to poetic creation was first suggested by Delbruck＇12＇ in a reference to Keller's ‘‘Der grune Heinrich；'' a German novel in which the lies of a boy of seven years； lies of a creative type of the nature of retroactive hallucinations； are described。 Hinrichsen＇13＇ discusses at length the resemblance of pseudologia phantastica to poetic creation in Goethe； Grillparzer； Hoffman； and others。
＇12＇ loc。 cit。
＇13＇ ‘‘Zur Kasuistik und Psychologie der Pseudologia phantastica。'' Arch。 fur Kriminal Anthrop。 umd Kriminalistik； 1906。
In an inaugural dissertation Anna Stemmermann＇14＇ presents exhaustively a series of cases。 These cases were studied over a long period catamnestically。 Commenting upon one case she says： It is worthy of note in this history that the patient in a hypnoidal condition； with headache and flushed face； crochets in a senseless way and thinks she is weaving a wreath for her mother's grave； her mother being still alive。 We often meet with actions like this。 Characteristic is the report of spontaneous； fearful headache； without the patient's putting this in relation to her peculiar behavior。 We lay more stress upon this condition than has been done previously in the literature。 We believe that this symptom is wanting in no classic case of pseudologia phantastica。 Often in this condition of narrowed consciousness； the daydreams are spun and have such a power of convincing that they later make the basis for pathological lies and swindling。 In this hypnoidal state a strongly heightened suggestibility exists and trivial external causes give daydreams their direction。 The general trend of fancy reveals naturally the inclinations and ideals of the affected individual。 Stemmermann also maintained that the pathological lie is a wish psychosis。 Even outside of the hypnoidal state； these cases are more suggestible than the general run of people。
＇14＇ ‘‘Beitrage und Kasuistik der Pseudologia phantastica。'' Geo。 Reimer； Berlin； 1906； pp。 102。
Of Stemmermann's own cases； ten in number； only four at most were normally endowed； the remainder were either stupid or slightly imbecile。 This agrees with the experience of previous writers。 Study of her cases showed that there was report of previous mendacity； four had been liars from childhood。 She found in them the combination of the general habit of lying underneath the more accentuated form of pseudologia phantastica。 One case had perverted sex feeling； one was a prostitute at sixteen years。
In her dissertation some points for the differentiation of the pathological lie have been added to those offered by Delbruck； Risch； Koppen； and Vogt。 The pathological liar lies； not according to a plan； but the impulse seizes him suddenly。 This propensity grows stronger。 Under strict supervision it comes to only an abortive attack； similar to what happens in cases of dipsomania； or of tendency to rove in which the repressed outbreak expresses itself in tormenting psychical and physical unrest。 While the normal liar and swindler is forced to be on his guard lest he divulge something of the actual state of affairs； and is therefore either taciturn or presents an evil and watchful appearance； or； if a novice at his trade； is hesitating in his replies； t