ABSTRACT
In several cases, behind the exaggerated fear of vermin and the affectively toned cover-memories concerned with the disgrace of the discovery of this kind of uncleanliness, lay the unconscious phantasy of being pregnant. What pregnancy and having vermin have in common—in addition to the disgrace—is the sheltering of little living things in and on the body. The same holds for intestinal worms—child = little worm. 4 Vermin in dreams are also to be interpreted in this sense.
