to us in the person of Restif de la Bretonne (ante, p. 18), he repeatedly speaks of “subjecting” the woman for whom he feels this fetichistic adoration, and mentions that even when still a child he especially admired a delicate and fairy-like girl in this respect because she seemed to him easier to subjugate.  Throughout life Restif’s attitude toward women was active and masculine, without the slightest trace of masochism.[21]

To suppose that a fetichistic admiration of his mistress’s foot is due to a lover’s latent desire to be kicked, is as unreasonable as it would be to suppose that a fetichistic admiration for her hand indicated a latent desire to have his ears boxed.  In determining whether we are concerned with a case of foot-fetichism or of masochism we must take into consideration the whole of the subject’s mental and emotional attitude.  An act, however definite, will not suffice as a criterion, for the same act in different persons may have altogether different implications.  To amalgamate the two is the result of inadequate psychological analysis and only leads to confusion.

It is, however, often very difficult to decide whether we are dealing with a case which is predominantly one of masochism or of foot-fetichism.  The nature of the action desired, as we have seen, will not suffice to determine the psychological character of the perversion.  Krafft-Ebing believed that the desire to be trodden on, very frequently experienced by masochists, is absolutely symptomatic of masochism.[22] This is scarcely the case.  The desire to be trodden on may be fundamentally an erotic symbolism, closely approaching foot-fetichism, and such slight indications of masochism as appear may be merely a parasitic growth on the symbolism, a growth perhaps more suggested by the circumstances involved in the gratification of the abnormal desire than inherent in the innate impulse of the subject.  This may be illustrated by the interesting case of a very intelligent man with whom I am well acquainted.

C.P., aged 38.  Heredity good.  Parents both healthy and normal.  Several children of the marriage, all sexually normal so far as is known.  C.P. is the youngest of the family and separated from the others by an interval of many years.  He was a seven-months’ child.  He has always enjoyed good health and is active and vigorous, both mentally and physically.

From the age of 9 or 10 to 14 he masturbated occasionally for the sake of physical relief, having discovered the act for himself.  He was, however, quite innocent and knew nothing of sexual matters, never having been initiated either by servants or by other boys.

“When I encounter a woman who very strongly attracts me and whom I very greatly admire,” he writes, “my desire is never that I may have sexual connection with her in the ordinary sense, but that I may lie down upon the floor on my back and be trampled upon by her.