Mental disease and defect in United States troops / by Edgar King.

  • King, Edgar, 1884-
Date:
[1914]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Mental disease and defect in United States troops / by Edgar King. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    out the course of the disease, though as a rule they gradually dimin- ish as time passes, and in the later stages are not pronounced (after — awhile the patients often come to disregard them and may deny their existence when they really are present). Auditory hallucinations are by far most frequent and annoying. They often begin as simple “ noises” of various kinds heard in one or both ears, and gradually develop into “ voices.” Patients have various ideas as to the origin and location of these, but usually seek them in the outside world. They may be heard constantly or only at times. “ Voices” usually say things which are unpleasant and incite to anger, and very often are accusing, charging the pa- tient with having committed various irregularities, especially of a sexual nature. On the other hand there may be “ good voices ” de- fending, reassuring, or even complimenting the patient. Both “oood” and “bad” voices may be heard at the same time, one or the other predominating. ‘“ Voices” or other agencies often com- ment on their thoughts and actions. Later (or even at times early) the content of the “ voices” may be indifferent, senseless, and ap- parently without meaning. The following are fair examples of the type of auditory halluci- nations seen in cases admitted from the United States Army: One hebephrenic said “ Heard all kinds of voices imaginable in hospital at Presidio,” some of the fellows in the company got to using some vile language and telling him he was “all sorts of a sexual pervert and degenerate” (these voices were very frank and called every- thing by its right name. This type of “ voices” was verv common with us). Another (hebephrenic) denied hearing any “unnatural voices,” but said his comrades both in his company and outside called him “bad names ”’; said he could not name his accusers. “I know they spoke bad of me right in my presence, seemed to criticize my looks, and told me what an evil appearance I had.” Accused him by in- sinuation of being a sexual pervert, etc. This was done “to get his goat.” A catatonic case: Do you hear voices? “ Yes.” Where? “Right up there” | pointing]. Whose voices? “The air; the clouds are in the air.” They said, “ Keep near,” which he said meant to him “ stay where you are.” One colored hebephrenic heard, at Camp McGrath, P. I., the voices of two women in Chicago; talked over telephone to some one * a long way off. At Presidio, when he pressed his head against his pillow, he heard all kinds of noises—wagons, trains, birds, chickens, hogs, dogs, everything; at time of examination hears a violin and harp playing above him. A hebephrenic said he heard voices “ at times, off and on; they catch me in the back of my neck and say
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