Here then we have the natural history of what? Hysteria? or Epilepsy? This
question I shall not attempt to answer. But what has been the therapeutic
result of psychoanalysis? This question I can answer.
In the six months during which the analysis has been in progress the patient
has had no attacks in which she has had convulsions, frothed at the mouth,
or bitten her tongue. She has had only three spells in which consciousness
was lost and these were mild. The last one was described by the daughter.
She said it was like a faint; that her mother was in it only a short time;
that she had none of the symptoms she used to have; and was all right soon
afterwards with no bad after-effects. She added that since her mother had
been coming to the hospital she had improved so much they never thought of
her now as being sick. The bad feelings have diminished so much in number
and intensity as to be almost negligible. Family relations have so improved
husband and wife are practically at one in their purposes. Social relations
have also improved to such an extent that the patient has been able to
prevent the wreck of the home of a friend, and in her church is an active
worker on a number of committees. She is now doing her best to get her
daughter started right in life. The patient regards herself as having
practically recovered.
The next case I wish to present for your consideration is that of a young
man twenty-six years old. He was brought into the accident-room of the
hospital one night last Summer suffering from convulsions. He continued to
have convulsions throughout the night, and as many as five interns were
required to hold him quiet. These convulsions seemed to have enough purpose
in them to warrant the diagnosis of hysteria, so the next morning he was
referred to me.
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