Shell-shock and other neuropsychiatric problems

A soldier was buried in a mine explosion, October, 1915, and for several days thereafter was unconscious or semi-conscious. He emerged deaf and subject to stammering and a condition termed “neurasthenic.” The stammering was soon replaced by mutism, which lasted several weeks. The mutism was then supplanted by epileptic fits.

He was observed by Ballard in a dreamlike, disoriented and inaccessible state, in which he was anesthetic to pin pricks, lay awestruck, dumbly following with his finger hallucinatory airplanes. Flexibilitas cerea was also shown at this time.

Next day he emerged from the dreamlike state with mental processes somewhat slowed, disorientation for time, amnesia for the attack, memory disturbance and a return of the stammer. On the next day following, all these symptoms had disappeared except amnesia for the attack. Another spell of epileptic fits occurred later. It seems that the man had had a convulsion thirteen years before and occasional convulsions since. In fact, he, seven years before, had had what was called “a stroke” and residuals of a slight hemiplegia were still present. (There is no statement in the case report relative to syphilis.)