Since the age of twelve she has been subject to various tics of the
face and head. She wrinkles her forehead and moves her scalp to and
fro, and sometimes she turns her head slowly and steadily towards
the left side, raising her eyes up and to the left at the same
moment. Head and eyes forthwith resume their normal position. The
deliberateness of the act is altogether exceptional. If, however,
she happens to be wearing her hat--which is remarkable for its
size, weight, and unwieldiness--the gesture is repeated in a quick
and jerky manner. Any diversion, such as reading, knitting,
listening to a conversation, especially if she feels she is not
being noticed, will augment the intensity of the movements, which
the thought of being observed, or the awakening of her interest, or
rest in bed, or sleep, has the effect of abbreviating or checking.
Our earliest step was to confiscate the offending hat, and this had
the instantaneous result of diminishing the violence and frequency
of the tic, which the subsequent practice of appropriate exercises
entirely dispelled.
If now we direct our attention to the psychical aspect of the case,
we are struck with the goodness, devotion, and disinterestedness of
our patient. Her one concern is for the welfare of others, and she
is indifferent to the pleasures of literature, art, games, or even
work. All that is required of her she performs with docility, but
never with animation. The extent of her passiveness is seen in her
childlike acceptance of her parents' wishes. Her temperament is
neither gay nor sad, but merely dull. Indolence and maladroitness
predominate in all her actions, and reveal themselves in the
curious awkwardness and nonchalance that characterise the execution
of even the simplest movement. She is essentially of a very
unstable nature, but its torpidity is no less obvious than its
instability. If there is no abruptness in her acts, it is equally
true that she is never still. She cannot maintain any given
attitude; she cannot fix her gaze on any particular object. Her
restlessness is such that her position is changed from moment to
moment, however slowly and imperceptibly. Her eyes are only half
opened; as she speaks, her lips are scarcely seen to move.
It has been a laborious and protracted task to teach her to sit
motionless with her hands in front of her, and no less unremitting
effort has been required to make her open her mouth properly, or
turn her head naturally from side to side.
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