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
Admitted to Lord Derby Hospital October 14, 1916,--quiet, orderly,
coöperative: desired to return to his regiment. He now gave a history:
Enlisted British Army 1908, went to France, August, 1914, wounded
February, 1915, at Neuve Chapelle; recovered; then attached to 45th
Durham Light Infantry; blown up July 22, 1916, came to August 5,
1916, in hospital in Boulogne; then back to his regiment--but month
later left without leave to pay off old score on a former comrade
who had insulted his sister--arrested later by military police; put
under observation in 65th Field Ambulance. No deterioration noted,
school knowledge fairly well retained; no hallucinations or delusions
(maintained he was a spiritualist, also that following shell-shock
had suffered from insomnia and seemed to hear sister’s voice).
Physically--small, well nourished, effeminate looking.
Oct. 23, 1916, he broke parole, but a month later returned to hospital
under arrest. The police reported he had been masquerading as wounded
French soldier attached to British army as interpreter; imposed on
people; had two leaden types in his possession: “Interpreter R. le
Auldere, attached to 1st Division.”
Story in hospital on return:--Born in France, did well in school,
entered military academy at Paris. Quarreled with father--ran away
to sea. Adopted by a French lady at Pembroke Dock. On account of
drunken habits, quarreled again; joined army at Bristol, 1908. Went
to France in August, 1914; January, 1915, invalided home because of
“trench feet”--discharged as unfit. Reënlisted June, 1915, in Durham
Light Infantry. January, 1916, again ordered to France. Blown up on
Somme, July, 1916, by shell--remembered nothing until brought to No. 3
General Hospital. He remembers being accused of desertion but sentence
was not passed, as he was held by the medical officer to have been
irresponsible (as a matter of fact he was, at that time, considered to
be a case of dementia praecox.)
Said that during twenty-five days, due to drunkenness, his friends had
taken him to Manchester with them; arrested by police as he attempted
to get back to hospital. He was now accused of wilfully lying and,
confronted with his police record, at first denied it, but later gave
following approximately true story:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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