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
In the treatment of this case the writings of psychologists who
had studied hypnagogic experiences were used and the absence of
hallucinations during waking hours was stressed. The remembered
literature regarding spermatorrhoea was discounted by the rational
explanation of his state.
He seemed to be getting on well when a trivial accident caused a
relapse. While he was saying goodby to his wife, who had visited him,
she was taken ill, and he went home with her. He was punished for being
late in returning to the hospital. Although no moral stigma attaches
to confinements in barracks in most soldiers’ minds, in this man a
depression was produced and suicidal talk followed. It seems that his
father had been sent to jail when he was a child, and he felt he had
been tainted by his father in such wise that his “criming” was due
to heredity. With the removal of this misconception he became more
rational and immensely improved.
Five months’ war experience: Neurasthenia in subject without heredity
or soil.
=Case 176.= (JOLLY, January, 1916.)
A 38-year old soldier is Jolly’s example of a neurasthenia produced in
a person without previous neurasthenic traits or hereditary factors.
This soldier had been a moderately good student and never ill. He
went into the battle line in December, 1914, and came out in May,
1915, on account of exhaustion. The case is not wholly convincing
since the patient had a shrapnel injury of the skull, described as of
so inconsiderable a degree that he was not put on the sick list on
its account. The patient finally arrived at the Nuremberg Hospital,
complaining of pressure in the head, as if there was a band around
the head, and dizziness. He wept a good deal saying that the sight
of the dead had frightened him. Sleep was restless and there were
unpleasant dreams of the battle field. Intelligence was not in any
degree disturbed. The supra-orbital points were sensitive to pressure.
The tongue showed a marked tremor and was coated; the mechanical
excitability of the muscles was increased; and there was reddening of
the skin on stroking. There was a fine tremor of the extended fingers,
less tremor of the head and of the body at large. Knee-jerks normal.
Nutrition well preserved. Partial recovery in the hospital.
Importance of arterial hypotension in the diagnosis of psychasthenia.
=Case 177.= (CROUZON, March, 1915.)
A man of 32 (never well, with general weakness, ideas of consumption
and vacuous thinking following a good recovery from bronchitis at 28,
unsuccessful in business, subject to weaknesses) had had eighteen
months antebellum of what might be called psychasthenia. There were
spells of loss of consciousness without convulsions, and probably of
hysterical nature. There had been for two years insomnia and a general
hypobulic slowing down of work.
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