On the feigned and factitious diseases of soldiers and seamen, on the means used to simulate or produce them, and on the best modes of discovering impostors : being a short abstract of the prize essay delivered during the session 1835-6, to the Professor of military surgery in the University of Edinburgh / by Hector Gavin.

  • Gavin, Hector.
Date:
1838
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the feigned and factitious diseases of soldiers and seamen, on the means used to simulate or produce them, and on the best modes of discovering impostors : being a short abstract of the prize essay delivered during the session 1835-6, to the Professor of military surgery in the University of Edinburgh / by Hector Gavin. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    “ It is impossible to specify particularly the diseases or dis- abilities on account of which soldiers may require to be dis- charged ; but great care ought to be taken by medical officers not to mistake sympathetic morbid phenomena for symptoms indicative of organic disease.”1 (“ Que d’ effets sont pris pour des causes au milieu des affections dont regorgent nos hos- pitaux militaires.”2) “ Medical staff-officers should be par- ticularly careful not to encourage the practice of malingering, by recommending men to be discharged on slight grounds, or whose alleged disabilities are of a doubtful character, or where suspicion may be entertained with regard to the origin of a dis- ability, as in cases of mutilation, and particularly in cases of impaired vision. In fine, they are to be very cautious in recom- mending a man to be discharged, who is fit for the performance of any duty.”3 It has been deemed advisable to introduce these recommendations or orders, that no doubt may remain on the mind of the medical attendant as to the extent to which his accuracy of observation should be carried. There seems little doubt that these circulars were issued, as much from the extent to which the simulation of disease was carried, as from its being observed in doubtful cases, that the naval and military officers, as well as the surgeon, had their patience exhausted by the perseverance of a decided skulker or malingerer, — when it was not unusually remarked, “ He is a useless fellow,” and “ he had better be allowed to go, when a better man may be obtained in his place.”4 Nothing can be more fallacious than this doctrine; for no sooner does one of these impostors succeed, than two or three are sure to follow his example, in the hope of obtaining their discharge by pursuing the same plan. It is for this reason that Marshall 1 Circular, Army Medical Department, June 22, 1830. 2 Coche, de T Operation Mcdicale du Recrutement, p. 70. 2 Instructions to Staff and Regimental Medical Officers, July 30, 1830. * Dr. Quarrier’s letter to Mr. Hutchison Vide Hutchison’s Practical Observations on Surgery.