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 corporal was wounded by a bullet in the calf, September 8, 1914. At
the end of July, 1915, his lameness continued and he disliked to lean
on his left leg which bent under him. There was a slight atrophy of
the left calf. The lower leg could not be extended upon the thigh if
the foot was in dorsal flexion, and the dorsal flexion of the foot
was itself limited. There were no reflex, vasomotor or electrical
disorders. The man was given the usual treatment by Vincent and soon
learned to carry his body on either foot, and, being well disposed,
speedily abandoned his lameness, acquiring such skill in movements that
he became monitor over the other soldiers, watching over them in his
capacity as corporal.
For about a year he thus served as monitor, and when fully dressed
did not seem abnormal or look as if he were walking lame. However,
after walking, say 6 kilometers, rapidly, he dragged his leg; nor
was extension of the lower leg upon the thigh absolutely complete in
habitual walking, though he was able to extend perfectly if requested.
Dorsal flexion of the foot was also still somewhat limited, and the
measurements of the two lower extremities at both calf and thigh showed
a persistent slight atrophy on the left side. He was then sent into the
auxiliary service and did good work as draughtsman. In the winter the
left foot got cold rather easily.
This case is instanced by Vincent to support the contentions of
Babinski and Froment that the truly “physiopathic” or “reflex”
disorders do not completely clear up in the recovery from the
associated hysterical disorders. That limb, which is the seat of
physiopathic disorder, is not in a state of meiopragia.
Foot trauma: Pains and dysbasia, hysterical; slight atrophy of calf,
physiopathic. Differential disappearance of hysterical symptoms;
increase of physiopathic symptoms.
=Case 278.= (VINCENT, April, 1917.)
Clovis Vincent examined a man who had been wounded in the foot but
without injury to the bones. He was first examined in July, 1915, when
he complained of foot pains and was walking with crutches. The left
calf was smaller than the right (4 cm.). The tendon reflexes were
normal. There was no abnormality of electrical reaction. There was
no proportionality between the trouble with walking and the organic
status. A large part of the trouble appeared to be hysterical. In fact,
upon treatment, the man was soon able to abandon the crutches and to
walk, though lamely. He was put into the auxiliary military service.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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