psychiatrist, who both aided in developing profiles of suspected criminals from the specifics of their crimes, as well as championed the cause of what was becoming known as diminished capacity. For Krafft-Ebing, those who committed crimes because of mental illness should not be held accountable for such crimes. Instead, he proposed the novel concept of treatment rather than punishment, a course that would never, Werthen thought, find a basis in law.
Added to this, Krafft-Ebing was among the foremost researchers in syphilis and its side effects, a believer in hypnotism asa possible treatment for mental problems, and a pioneer of the study of sexual deviancy His 1886 book,
Psychopathia Sexualis
, documented hundreds of cases of what Krafft-Ebing termed masochism, sadism, and other deviancies, including homosexuality, incest, and pederasty. Despite that Krafft-Ebing had written the case histories in Latin to avoid sensationalism, the textbook had still become an international bestseller, which never ceased to embarrass this prudish man. It was said that the sale of Latin dictionaries increased tenfold in Germany and Austria at the time of the first publication of
Psychopathia Sexualis
.
Krafft-Ebing hardly looked the part of a social revolutionary. He was of medium height and dressed conservatively. His graying and thinning hair was cut short, and his beard trimmed to a sharp V under his chin. His eyes were the most distinctive thing about the man, Werthen thought. They were gray-green and full of a kind of luminescence that seemed to come from within.
He was kind enough to act as if he remembered Werthen, but the lawyer doubted it. Krafft-Ebing and Gross were, however, fast friends as well as colleagues.
They met at the Griechenbeisl, a favorite of Werthen’s in the First District, and after a few minutes of small talk and study of the menu, Gross got down to business. They were seated in one of the private booths, so they could speak freely. Gross explained to the psychologist the crimes they were investigating, detailing minutely the wounds to the bodies of each of the victims.
The first course arrived, and Krafft-Ebing, obviously not put off with such graphic details, happily attacked the liver dumpling floating in his consommé.
“No signs of sexual interference, I take it?” he asked.
“None whatever. Though …”
Krafft-Ebing, seeming to understand Gross’s unspoken reservations, said, “I quite agree. Such wounds could be a sign of inversion on the part of the killer. Inspired by certain deep-seated neuroses,sexual in nature, but which are released asexually. Which means that the killer keeps his deviancy well under control. He … I assume you suspect a male killer?”
Gross nodded, forking some cucumber salad into his mouth.
“He,”
Krafft-Ebing continued, “would be a person no one could suspect of deviancy. Outwardly, he projects the picture of decorum and balance. Inwardly he seethes. This makes your work that much more difficult.”
“You are describing half of Vienna,” Werthen joked.
“Do not misunderstand me,” Krafft-Ebing said, his eyes burning a hole in Werthen. “Sexual feeling is the root of all ethics. However, sexual feelings, misguided, can also be the most damaging impulse known in society. It is not to be taken lightly.”
“That is why you are here,” Gross said, his demeanor also having taken on a new gravitas.
As if satisfied by this avowal, Krafft-Ebing went on, “The nose is intriguing. The obvious inference-further enhanced by the draining of the blood-would be a Jewish ritual murder.”
“We
had
wondered about that,” Gross said, raising his eyebrows at Werthen.
“As I say, that is the obvious inference. However, my research in syphilis suggests another possibility.” Krafft-Ebing took a moment, dabbing his lips with his linen napkin.
The three were silent while a serving girl, under the direction of the tuxedoed headwaiter, delivered the house
Added to this, Krafft-Ebing was among the foremost researchers in syphilis and its side effects, a believer in hypnotism asa possible treatment for mental problems, and a pioneer of the study of sexual deviancy His 1886 book,
Psychopathia Sexualis
, documented hundreds of cases of what Krafft-Ebing termed masochism, sadism, and other deviancies, including homosexuality, incest, and pederasty. Despite that Krafft-Ebing had written the case histories in Latin to avoid sensationalism, the textbook had still become an international bestseller, which never ceased to embarrass this prudish man. It was said that the sale of Latin dictionaries increased tenfold in Germany and Austria at the time of the first publication of
Psychopathia Sexualis
.
Krafft-Ebing hardly looked the part of a social revolutionary. He was of medium height and dressed conservatively. His graying and thinning hair was cut short, and his beard trimmed to a sharp V under his chin. His eyes were the most distinctive thing about the man, Werthen thought. They were gray-green and full of a kind of luminescence that seemed to come from within.
He was kind enough to act as if he remembered Werthen, but the lawyer doubted it. Krafft-Ebing and Gross were, however, fast friends as well as colleagues.
They met at the Griechenbeisl, a favorite of Werthen’s in the First District, and after a few minutes of small talk and study of the menu, Gross got down to business. They were seated in one of the private booths, so they could speak freely. Gross explained to the psychologist the crimes they were investigating, detailing minutely the wounds to the bodies of each of the victims.
The first course arrived, and Krafft-Ebing, obviously not put off with such graphic details, happily attacked the liver dumpling floating in his consommé.
“No signs of sexual interference, I take it?” he asked.
“None whatever. Though …”
Krafft-Ebing, seeming to understand Gross’s unspoken reservations, said, “I quite agree. Such wounds could be a sign of inversion on the part of the killer. Inspired by certain deep-seated neuroses,sexual in nature, but which are released asexually. Which means that the killer keeps his deviancy well under control. He … I assume you suspect a male killer?”
Gross nodded, forking some cucumber salad into his mouth.
“He,”
Krafft-Ebing continued, “would be a person no one could suspect of deviancy. Outwardly, he projects the picture of decorum and balance. Inwardly he seethes. This makes your work that much more difficult.”
“You are describing half of Vienna,” Werthen joked.
“Do not misunderstand me,” Krafft-Ebing said, his eyes burning a hole in Werthen. “Sexual feeling is the root of all ethics. However, sexual feelings, misguided, can also be the most damaging impulse known in society. It is not to be taken lightly.”
“That is why you are here,” Gross said, his demeanor also having taken on a new gravitas.
As if satisfied by this avowal, Krafft-Ebing went on, “The nose is intriguing. The obvious inference-further enhanced by the draining of the blood-would be a Jewish ritual murder.”
“We
had
wondered about that,” Gross said, raising his eyebrows at Werthen.
“As I say, that is the obvious inference. However, my research in syphilis suggests another possibility.” Krafft-Ebing took a moment, dabbing his lips with his linen napkin.
The three were silent while a serving girl, under the direction of the tuxedoed headwaiter, delivered the house
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