It may seem that an inordinate amount of space has been devoted to the demonstration of a simple truth, that mental, like bodily disorder, should be treated early, or complications may ensue. But there are reasons for giving so much prominence to this aspect of the subject. The chief is that in our own country, mental disorder is seldom treated in its early stages. Nearly all our elaborate public machinery for dealing with this distressing form of illness is devised, and in practice is available, only for the advanced cases. This war has shown clearly a truth which, of course, was already known before to many doctors, but never adequately appreciated by the general public, that a case of advanced mental disorder may pass not only through various milder stages on its way, but that if intercepted at these earlier stages, it may frequently be cured with ease. Another point which should be emphasised is this: shell-shock involves no _new_ symptoms or disorders. Every one was known beforehand in civil life. If by any stretch of the imagination we could speak of a specific variety of disease called shell-shock, it would be new only in its unusually great number of ingredients. And the most gratifying truth of all is that even this hydra-headed monster, if caught young, can be destroyed. From the fact that shell-shock includes no new disorders the important inference may be drawn that the medical lessons taught by the war must not be forgotten when peace comes. The civilian should be offered the facilities for cure which have proved such a blessing to the war-stricken soldier. FOOTNOTES: [1] There are no sicknesses, there are only sick people. [2] This subject has been lucidly discussed by C. Burt, “Psychology and the Emotions,” _School Hygiene_, May, 1916. [3] Such as for instance, D. Forsyth, _Lancet_, Dec. 25th, 1915, p. 1399; C. S. Myers, _Lancet_, Mar. 18th, p. 608; R. G. Rows, _Brit. Med. Jour._, Mar. 25th, 1916, p. 441; G. Elliot Smith, _Lancet_, April 15th and 22nd, 1916; H. Wiltshire, _Lancet_, June 17th, 1916. [4] Wiltshire, _op. cit._, p. 1210. [5] On pp. 4, 5. [6] The reader who is interested in these important distinctions should consult McDougall, _Social Psychology_, London, 1915, p. 116. [7] _Cf._ the statements of two experienced neurologists:—Déjerine and Gauckler (written before the war), “Overwork and fatigue are no more a cause of neurasthenia than they are of tuberculosis. Without emotion there are no psychoneuroses.” (_The Psychoneuroses and their Treatment by Psychotherapy_, Jelliffe’s translation, 1913, p. 232.) [8] An experimental investigation of the mental effects of loss of sleep has been carried out by Miss May Smith of the Oxford Psychological Laboratory. A short account of these experiments and their results is given in “Some Experimental Investigations of Fatigue,” by T. H. Pear, _Proceedings of London County Council Conference of Teachers_, 1914. [9] _Op. cit._, p. 1402.