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Shows the symptomatology of "shell-shock" in 18 British "other rankers" and its treatment by two leading R.A.M.C. neurologists in two British military hospitals towards the end of the First World War. Captions tell us the men's names, rank, medical condition, details of their symptoms and how long it took to complete the cure, which in one case was in two and a half hours. Clinical features shown include a variety of ataxic and "hysterical" gaits; hysterical paralyses, contractures and anaesthesias; facial ties and spasms; loss of knee and ankle-jerk reflexes; paraplegia; "war hyperthyrodism"; amnesia; word-blindness and word-deafness. Although there are no precise details of the kind of treatment given, apart from the description 'cured and re-educated' we do see a little physiotherapy and hypnotic suggestion in treatment, and of 'cured' men undertaking farm-work, drill and a mock battles entitled 'Re-enacting the Battle of Seale Hayne / Convalescent war neurosis patients'.

1 film reel (22 min.) : silent, black and white, 16 mm

War Neuroses : Netley Hospital,1917.

A series of case histories of German combattant soldiers and sailors showing severe neurological symptoms of 'shell shock' both before and after treatment by hypnotic suggestion. Inter-titles for each section include: Linkseitige funktionelle lahnung (leftsided-functional paralysis) / Bauchmuskeldrampfe nach Granateinschlag (Abdominal muscle cramps following shellfire) / Zwerchfellkrampf durch starken Schreck (Diaphragmatic spasms caused by severe shock) / Schwere allgemeine Muskeldrampfe nach Verschuttung (Severe general muscular convulsions following accidental burying) / Schwere klonische krampfe der korpermuskulature durch Granateinschlag (Severe chronic convulsions of the body muscles caused by shellfire) / Klonischer Schuttel-Tremor der rechten Korperhalfe (Chronic shaking tremor of the right side of the body) / Allgemeiner Schuttel-Tremor nach Verschuttung (General shaking tremor following accidental burying) / Schuttel-Tremor (Shaking-tremor / palsy) / Schwere allgemeine Schuttelkrampfe mit Abasie-Astasie (Motory convulsions with abasia-astasia) / Motorische Krampfzustande mit Abasie-Astasie (Motory convulsions with abasia-astasia) / Montraktur der linken Wadenmuskulatur mit Spitzfusstellung (Contracture of the left calf muscles with [(tali)pes equinus] / Clownartige Bewegungsstorungen durch Schreckeinwirkung (Clown-like motory disturbances caused by fright (terror).

1 videocassette (VHS) (12 min.) : sound, black and white, PAL.

Abnormal movements and paralyses of combattants.

Shows the symptomatology of "shell-shock" in 18 British "other rankers" and its treatment by two leading R.A.M.C. neurologists in two British military hospitals towards the end of the First World War. Captions tell us the men's names, rank, medical condition, details of their symptoms and how long it took to complete the cure, which in one case was in two and a half hours. Clinical features shown include a variety of ataxic and "hysterical" gaits; hysterical paralyses, contractures and anaesthesias; facial ties and spasms; loss of knee and ankle-jerk reflexes; paraplegia; "war hyperthyrodism"; amnesia; word-blindness and word-deafness. Although there are no precise details of the kind of treatment given, apart from the description 'cured and re-educated' we do see a little physiotherapy and hypnotic suggestion in treatment, and of 'cured' men undertaking farm-work, drill and a mock battles entitled 'Re-enacting the Battle of Seale Hayne / Convalescent war neurosis patients'. 5 segments.

1 encoded moving image (27 min.) : silent, black and white

Absorbing two part documentary feature on the life, work and ideas of the late Dr. William Sargant (1907-1987), formerly of the Maudsley and St Thomas' Hospitals and lifelong advocate of a radical "physicalist" approach not only to the interpretation and treatment of mental illness, but also of a whole variety of other abnormal mental and behavioural states, such as religous trance and possession, not normally regarded as falling within the psychiatrists territory. Of the highest interest not only for historians of nineteenth and twentieth century psychology and psychiatry, but also for anyone interested in cultural anthropology or the psychological study of religous - and irreligous - beliefs and practices. "Part 1: The Mind Possessed"With the aid of lavish excerpts from his own unique ethno-cinematographic archive (now in the posesssion of the Museum of Mankind), Sargant recalls his apprenticeship in British psychiatry in the 1930's and 1940's, vigorously defends his controversial treatment of war neuroses by "abreactive drug therapy", and shows how, in his view, Pavlov's theories of conditioned reflexes provide a single, complete "explanation" for the phenomena of religous ecstacy, demonic possession, trance and hysteria, regardless of their historical or cultural context. "Part 2: The Unquiet Mind" Sargant explains why his unorthodox methods and "difficult" personality soon made him persona non grata for both the "establishment" and "progressive" camps in post-war British psychiatry. He takes issue with what he sees as modern psychiatry's excessively psychological and pseudo- humanistic orienations, and further justifies his own decided preference for physcial methods of treatment and psycho-surgery.

Battle for the Mind

1 videocassette (VHS) (2X52 min.) : sound, color, PAL.

Battle for the mind : Dr. William Sargant in conversation with Dr. Ernesto Spinelli.

1 videocassette (VHS) (22 min.) : silent, black and white PAL. 3 DVDs (22 min. each) : silent, black and white 1 DVD (BITC) ((22 min. each) : silent, black and white 1 videocassette (BETA SP) (22 min.) : silent, black and white PAL. 1 videocassette (DIGI BETA) (27 min.) : silent, black and white PAL. 1 videocassette BITC (DIGI BETA) (27 min.) : silent, black and white PAL.

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Combat Disorders - rehabilitation

Works

War Neuroses : Netley Hospital,1917.

Abnormal movements and paralyses of combattants.

War Neuroses : Netley Hospital,1917.

Battle for the mind : Dr. William Sargant in conversation with Dr. Ernesto Spinelli.

War Neuroses : Netley Hospital,1917.

Today’s opening times

Wellcome uses cookies.

Combat Disorders - rehabilitation

Works

War Neuroses : Netley Hospital,1917.

Abnormal movements and paralyses of combattants.

War Neuroses : Netley Hospital,1917.

Battle for the mind : Dr. William Sargant in conversation with Dr. Ernesto Spinelli.

War Neuroses : Netley Hospital,1917.

Wellcome Collection

Today’s opening times