Mutism and aphasia : a clinical lecture / by Hermann Gutzmann ; authorized translation by Max R. Dinkelspiel.

  • Gutzmann, Hermann, 1865-1922.
Date:
1902
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Licence: In copyright

Credit: Mutism and aphasia : a clinical lecture / by Hermann Gutzmann ; authorized translation by Max R. Dinkelspiel. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    as for instance the number, one, she invariably transposes from left to right. She can write the letters t, i, m, and n, while, on the other hand, her re- production of the letter 1 is hardly recognizable. But, as you can at the same time convince yourself, the child can read small syllables correctly. The impediment in writing in this case, therefore, ob- viously depends only upon an absence of mechani- cal dexterity. The balance of the examination of the child shows nothing particularly abnormal. The reflexes as well as sensation are normal. Digestion is now performed regularly, while some years ago the child suffered frequently from constipation. When ad- mitted to the clinic, she still had nocturnal inconti- nence of urine, which, however, soon disappeared upon the administration of proper diet. As far as the family history is concerned, the child comes from a highly intelligent professor’s family. The mother is highly neurasthenic, while the father, as well as four other children, is ab- solutely healthy. As already stated, she is the youngest of five children and was born with a bila- teral harelip and cleft palate. The harelip was operated upon immediately after birth, while the cleft palate was operated upon when the child was one and one-half years of age. Perhaps this introduction to the case will not immediately convince you that the child is psychi- cally normal, as physically she conducts herself quite clumsily and, as far as her speech and education are concerned, is considerably behind other children of her age. Perhaps even the tests I have made in order to appeal to her intelligence may not entirely convince you of the fact. Therefore I must beg of you to believe me that the child is psychically entire- ly normal. I am able all the more to claim this, as I have had the child in my clinic for over two years and am familiar with the expressions of her thoughts and powers of observation. We therefore have to