Hysteria : the history of a disease / by Ilza Veith.

  • Ilza Veith
Date:
1970, ©1965
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Hysteria : the history of a disease / by Ilza Veith. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    difficult to explain the severe lumbar pain at the expiration of months on the supposition of real injury, the very- severity of which pointed to hysteria, and there were no circumstances in the case, in my opinion, inconsistent with that diagnosis, and for which malady she was treated. Her recovery, which occupied many months, was, how- ever, complete. I have records of other cases of the same character, which I have no time now to detail. I pray you to recollect, and to keep always before your minds in your future practice, that the human body may be the subject of a class of diseases involving the nerves or nervous system, whether of a small or a large portion of the frame, which are essentially and pathologically distinct from diseases of the vascular system ; that they carry with them so much of a resemblance to real disease or disorgani- zation of structure as to deceive the most experienced, but that they are destitute of some of the most prominent features which characterize real disease ; that the varieties of this affection, whether in situation, in form, or in intensity, are great; that the source of the affection is not a local one ; that, as real disease very commonly holds a relation with the functions of the heart and arterial system, that of local or general hysteria is the product of a disturbed, not a diseased, condition of the brain or spinal cord ; and that, finally, in considering the entire phenomena of hys- teric affections, it is difficult to deny their relation to the mind, which appears to exercise some mysterious or occult influence over them. THE END.