Shell-shock and other neuropsychiatric problems : $b Presented in five hundred and eighty-nine case histories from the war literature, 1914-1918Southard, Elmer Ernest
History
Shell-shock and other neuropsychiatric problems : $b Presented in five hundred and eighty-nine case histories from the war literature, 1914-1918
Southard, Elmer Ernest
War neuroses; World War, 1914-1918 -- Medical care; World War, 1914-1918 -- Psychological aspects
A private, 22, was selected by Col. Garrod for hypnotic treatment by
Tombleson from among the hyperthyroid cases. He was admitted April 3,
1916, with a typical hyperthyroidism, with manual tremor, enlarged
thyroid, pulse 120, blood pressure 136-40, and hemic murmur. Tombleson
induced deep somnambulism at the first hypnotic sitting and suggested
an increase of nerve strength and steadiness. The suggestions under
somnambulism were repeated for ten days. An occasional added suggestion
was given as to lessening of the thyroid. At the end of the ten days
the patient declared himself quite well.
Eight of twenty consecutive functional cases treated by hypnotism by
Tombleson were cases of hyperthyroidism and in virtually all of these
an effect like the above was registered.
Shell-shock; thrown against wall, stunned, emotional: Paroxysmal heart
crises six days later, observed for two months. Neurasthenia? Mild
Graves’ disease?
=Case 143.= (DEJERINE AND GASCUEL, December, 1914.)
An infantryman, 29, was sent to auxiliary hospital No. 274, for heart
trouble, a little thin but looking vigorous enough (typhoid fever at
13 and some diseases of unknown nature and of brief duration while in
military service).
September 24, a large calibre German shell burst and threw him against
a wall, producing no wound or contusion. He was momentarily stunned,
emotionally much affected, and noted at the time extreme palpitation.
He was evacuated to Paris September 30, six days after the shock. His
pulse was 130-134, regular, and the heart seemed not to be anomalous in
any respect.
But there were paroxysmal crises in which the pulse rose to 180 and
in which the patient fell into a state of great anxiety. The mouth
temperature in the midst of such crises would always rise to 38°,
and this temperature would outlast the rest of the seizure. The man
was mentally depressed and apparently indifferent, preoccupied with
his heart and his insomnia, but at the same time emotionally easily
affected. In short, he was a neurasthenic. There was no change in
mental state, tachycardia, or paroxysmal seizures in two months, except
that he gained weight. Walking and climbing stairs produced dyspnoea.
Urine was negative. According to Dejerine, such a case should be
treated by psychotherapy.
Alquier, in discussion, called attention to the slight but distinct
tremor in this case, dermographia, and spells of perspiration. He
suggested that the case might be one of mild Graves’ disease.
Hyperthyroidism three months, following ten months’ service, at times
under protracted shell fire.
=Case 144.= (ROTHACKER, January, 1916.)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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