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
As to the possible interpretation of such a case, see Case No. 433 (man
who could see large letters sometimes).
_Re_ blindness, H. Campbell states that the number of cases of
hysterical blindness appears to be decreasing as the war continues. The
blindness he finds to be rarely an absolute one. As a rule, the vision
is merely blurred or there is a contraction of the visual fields. The
condition is much less frequent than that of deafmutism.
_Re_ hysterical blindness, Dieufaloy is cited by Crouzon as describing
a triad of conditions characteristic of hysterical blindness, namely,
(_a_) sudden onset, (_b_) preservation of pupillary reflexes, and (_c_)
normal fundus.
Shell-shock amblyopia (composite data).
=Case 270.= (PARSONS, May, 1915.)
Parsons describes a typical case of shell explosion amblyopia. After
more or less prolonged fatigue from marching and trench exposure,
the soldier is knocked down or blown into the air, and more or less
severely injured or wounded by concussion, fracture, bullets, or shell
splinters, losing consciousness, but perhaps not enough to prevent
automatic walking in a dazed state to the dressing station. Memory of
this phase is lost. The man is instantaneously stricken blind, possibly
also deaf; and possibly smell and taste are also lost. Blepharospasm is
intense; there is lacrimation; the lids are opened with such difficulty
that examination of the eyes is almost impossible (nor, according to
Parsons, have the pupils yet been examined at this stage).
In a week or two the blepharospasm diminishes, and the fundi, which
are found to be absolutely normal, can be examined. The eyes may be
found to be quite normal, the pupils reactive to light though perhaps
sluggishly and perhaps unequally. Sight is now somewhat restored, light
can be perceived, and large objects distinguished. The patient can
grope about and usually does not stumble against obstacles. The fields
of vision are markedly contracted, and more so than the avoidance of
obstacles in walking would suggest.
Vision is eventually recovered completely. The right eye (the shooting
eye) is often more deeply affected and recovers more slowly. Perhaps a
central scotoma may persist. Sometimes on manipulation of lenses the
full vision can be produced for the types. Parsons seeks to explain the
psychology of traumatic amblyopia in the light of deductions of Lloyd
Morgan, Mark Baldwin and McDougall.
Shell-shock amblyopia (excitement, blinding flashes, fear, disgust,
fatigue).
=Case 271.= (PEMBERTON, May, 1915.)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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