The book Traite Pratique de Psychotherapie (1914) by an unknown French physician, Charles Burlureaux, is used as a witness of the situation of psychotherapy in France before World War I. It is a period in which leading psychiatrist wanted to break completely with the heritage of Charcot. Hypnosis was treated sceptically and the growing psychoanalytic movement had difficulty in finding French followers. The era was dominated by the 'moral treatment' or 'rational psychotherapy' of Paul Dubois. The book of Burlureaux reflects psychotherapy's search for an identity as a medical speciality. It conveys a basically optimistic message with emphasis on the `moral consciousness' of both physician and patient whose therapeutic relationship should be inspired and fueled by a 'desire for cure'.