Cases illustrating the origin of hysterical and pseudohysterical symptoms / by Tom A. Williams.

  • Williams, Tom A. (Tom Alfred), 1870-
Date:
1910
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Cases illustrating the origin of hysterical and pseudohysterical symptoms / by Tom A. Williams. 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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    especially superiorly. Taste and smell subjectively impaired only. Feels very fatigued after the fits, and then has pricking sensations in feet and hands. The Dreamy State—Distraction. Since then has had “absences,” during which something at which she was looking or listening disap- peared (accompanied by a feeling of numbness in the head), and did not return until she shook herself awake. At twelve, she fell down unconscious for forty minutes, and had to be carried out of church. After this, she had “absence” two or three times a week and attacks of “rage” daily for two months. These are caused by an idea coming into her head that she must strike someone. “It is more strong than I.” Sometimes she does not remember what has occurred during the attack. She confesses to have had “rages” with her parents, and to have gone away in “flights,” about which she forgot the details until the morrow, to forget them the following day. Similar attacks occurred with the teacher at school. 'When she was asked to do a task she had already done, she talked rudely to the teacher, and fought her back when struck in punishment. The same thing occurred in her places of employment, where she constantly fought her fellow servants, and even her mistress occa- sionally. Even in her second place, where she was so happy, she would sometimes have fits, while alone, of throwing dishes about, with total amnesia afterward. On coming to herself, she thought merely that she had not done right. The Treatment. After the first treatment by resisted movements, she could feel a prick on the back of the hand. The nature of the disease was explained. She was told to take cold baths and to always move briskly, to practice an erect carriage, loosen her clothing, to breathe deeply, and when tired to rest. Mechano- therapy was imposed; and the stimuli were to be repeated frequently by herself. A light diet, containing few purins, was administered. The suggestion was made in a waking state that she should not walk in her sleep that night. Repose was ordered from 11 to 12.30 o’clock daily. The following night, however, she walked, no sug- gestion having been given. She reported improved feeling (sen- sibility) after the exercises. Instruction and Persuasion. Treatment and suggestion were again given; and she did not walk the next night. The following day she had an attack of globus hystericus, became very stupid, and re- fused her bath. Persuasion overcame this, and sensibility returned more rapidly in the afternoon. One day she passed her station when returning on the Metropolitan Railway; she had a feeling of vague fear on doing this, followed by a chilliness and headache. Three days later, the sense of position was impaired in the left hand and arm. Hypnotism was then commenced. “F.— you are in a dream.” “Yes, sir.”