Shell-shock and other neuropsychiatric problems

An Italian corporal in the infantry, a robust man of a well-to-do family, took a good deal of pleasure in the war life. One day a comrade was injured by a missile of some sort, and died almost immediately. This comrade, after being hurt, had thrown himself against the corporal, who was asleep at the time. He woke up sharply and immediately felt sick. His status was one of great terror, lacrimation, lack of spontaneity, and insomnia. He would wake up from sleep and start from a terrible dream. He had a number of phobias and was especially interested in other persons who had the same sort of mental state as himself. He was in a state noted by Bennati as one of “emotional anaphylaxis” to various events around him. There was a horizontal nystagmus, the Mannkopf sign was positive (87-72), Thomayer 90-114, Erben 114-90. There was a slight tendency to dizziness when the Erben movements were made.