Case 583. (MacMahon, August, 1917.)
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
Southard, Elmer Ernest
An officer was wounded under his left eye, October 7, 1916. His speech was affected only five days later in a casualty clearing station. Observed by MacMahon, November 5, he was found to speak with great difficulty and became exhausted after a few words. He was tensing all the muscles in attempting to speak. Breathing advice was given and counsel how to relax in the abnormal efforts.
November 12, the officer, who was at Number One London General Hospital, began to speak with more freedom. “I am getting a bit better. I feel I must keep quiet, and it comes after a bit. I think far quicker than I speak.” He said that the breathing exercises had helped him most.
November 15, he still spoke in a rather staccato way; but the words did not check as they had. In a week further there had been so much improvement that he was discharged with a prognosis of complete recovery.
January, 1917, he had recovered.