Case 466. (Gilles, April, 1917.)
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
Southard, Elmer Ernest
An infantryman, 28, had an equinovarus, for which he was evacuated, hospitalized, given treatment, sent home for convalescence, and declared unfit for service. He was, however, sent back to the front, and on arrival, went lame; whereupon the regimental surgeon sent him to a nerve center. The equinovarus was there but it was nothing but a simple contracture without pain, atrophy, sensory, reflex, electrical, or X-ray disorders.
The abductor muscles were stimulated by electricity and the foot straightened. He was kept under observation for a time, was lame no longer, and was sent back to his regiment.
However, sometime later he was evacuated again to the same neurological center, stating that he did not know why. There was no longer any varus or anything abnormal. The rascal had enjoyed the game of going lame and had prevailed upon his officers to evacuate him. He then saw that he was found out and pretended that he had been forcibly evacuated.