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
On examination, July 28, 1915, he would in the standing position hold
his legs together with the feet resting on their external borders,
especially on the left side. The toes were in plantar flexion, and
the soles were arched upward more on the left side than on the right.
In walking, the legs were always held in extension, the feet twisting
outward. If an attempt was made to walk quickly, the man walked more
and more upon the external borders of his feet, in such wise that the
plantar surface and the heel turned up and became visible from above.
He would get tired after five minutes’ walking even if he spread his
legs out for a broader base of action. He could lift his legs only
about 10 cm. from the bed, but could flex and slowly extend his lower
leg on the thigh. He could not adduct or abduct the feet. Movements
of extension and flexion of leg on thigh were jerky and abruptly
terminated, as also movements of thigh on hip. The patient could not
sit, and when leaning forward he could not straighten up against
resistance. The reflexes were normal. There was no sensory disorder.
The electric reactions were normal. Pupils normal. There was slight
hypertension of the spinal fluid and a slight excess of albumin. There
were no lymphocytes.
In accordance with Dejerine’s idea that these neuropaths always have
antecedents looking in the same direction, it was found that he had
always been an emotional person, easily affected, sympathetic with
other people’s troubles, given to weeping. As Lieutenant, he had not
had the courage to harangue his soldiers. He had often during his life
felt his legs weaken during times of emotion and had sometimes been
unable to walk, though nothing of the sort had happened during the
campaign. He was sure he could get well, and wanted two months’ leave
in order to get back to the front. There were no hereditary features
in the case. A physician had told him that he had had meningitis. This
possibly followed whooping cough. He had had orchitis after mumps at
16. He had not had children, nor had there been miscarriages since
marriage at 21.
Wound near heart; delayed medical care; fear of having been shot
through heart: Paraparesis (antebellum always “hit in the legs.”)
=Case 289.= (DEJERINE, February, 1915.)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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