READERS

PERLY

"In the Feb., 1957 issue of THE LADDER there is a quotation attributed to a Dr. Blanche M. Baker, on page 6, that the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist is that the "psychiatrist goes deeper, stays longer and comes up dirtier." (my underlining)

I hope this is a misquote and that Dr. Baker, whoever she may be, did not author such a rotten remark. If any psychiatrist or psychologist feels that become dirtied by contact with their clients, no matter how deep they go, they don't belong in the field of attempting to be therapeutic to other human beings. I cannot conceive of a filthior insult to patients and humanity in general than the statement quoted." Martin Katzman, M. D. San Francisco, Calif.

"P.S. I will not attempt to give you a better distinction between psychiatrists and psychologists. It is á terribly complicated situation and cannot be explained in one paragraph, much less trite witticisms."

Dr. Baker, San Francisco psychiatrist, holds five degrees a B.A. and B.S.C. in education, M.A. în physiology, M. D., and Ph D. in abnormal psychology. She will be the speaker at the public discussion meeting of the Daughters of Bilitis April 23 when she will discuss "Self Acceptance." Ed.

"Thank you for the January copy of THE LADDER. Please send me an application for associate membership.

I was very much interested in the lead article of

LaVere's on emotions, etc., and the one on fear. I suppose most of us who do have a rather high moral code are even more subject to fear of one sort or another than even we realize.

I'm working now and hope, one day, to have a doctor's degree in psychology but I wonder how much my fears are slowing things up for me and what would really happen if my present supervisor knew of my deviant life?"

B. M., Battle Creek, Mich.