Hysteria or pithiatism, and reflex nervous disorders in the neurology of war / by J. Babinski ... and J. Froment ... with a proscript by the authors; translated by J.D. Rolleston ... ed., with a preface, by E. Farquhar Buzzard ; with 37 figures and 8 plates.

  • Babinski, J. (Joseph), 1857-1932
Date:
1918
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Hysteria or pithiatism, and reflex nervous disorders in the neurology of war / by J. Babinski ... and J. Froment ... with a proscript by the authors; translated by J.D. Rolleston ... ed., with a preface, by E. Farquhar Buzzard ; with 37 figures and 8 plates. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    77/390 (page 49)
    A few neurologists seem to be inclined to this opinion. Lentz (66) has noted the existence of a large number of hysterical stigmata in the soldiers of a Russian regiment which had taken part in many battles and had suffered considerable losses. Mondino (101) also remarks that in numerous cases following explosions “ a persevering physical examina¬ tion ” had always enabled him to find undoubted hysterical stigmata. The mere use of the term “ persevering ” applied to the examination of subjective phenomena justifies one in thinking that medical suggestion intervened in these investigations. Chavigny and Sollier have, it is true, found stigmata in subjects who had undergone no previous examina¬ tion, and although they had taken every precaution to avoid medical suggestion, but this opinion is in oppo¬ sition to that of a very large number of neurologists who are more convinced than ever by their experience in war that there is no foundation for a belief in the permanent stigmata of hysteria. As regards the so-called ocular stigmata, the reader will see later, in the paragraph on 44 Hysterical visual disorders/' what view should be adopted (v. p. 68). The nervous disorders, therefore, which have been described by the name of stigmata show a very variable fre¬ quency according to the observer, the cases observed, and the actual circumstances of the observation. In any case it is beyond dispute that at the present time these stigmata are infinitely rarer than formerly, and that medical men are more on their guard and so create them less frequently. But it is natural that they should reappear as soon as proper precautions during investigation are neglected. Moreover, in order to conclude that these stigmata do not originate in suggestion it is not sufficient to eliminate medical suggestion only. It must not be forgotten that other forms of hetero-suggestion or auto-suggestion may still intervene. We have already dwelt at sufficient length on this subject. E