The soldier's heart and the effort syndrome / by Thomas Lewis.

  • Thomas Lewis
Date:
[1918]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The soldier's heart and the effort syndrome / by Thomas Lewis. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    large part physiological sensations, they may not be regarded as intrinsically abnormal ; the abnormality lies in the circumstances in which they arise, in the demonstrated lack of reserve. There is now no doubt at all in my mind that in dealing with patients who are afflicted with the “ effort syndrome ” we are dealing with a very mixed group, the chief classes of which are probably as follows :— 1. One of the largest groups is that of constitutional weakness, nervous or physical or both. In this group are many who show incomplete or imperfect development. To it belong many undersized men, many with flat or elongated chests and instances of infantilism ; to the same group belong many with family histories tainted by insanity or epilepsy, and those who in childhood were nervous weaklings, becl- wetters, somnambulists, etc. 2. Another large group comprises those who may be regarded as played out by exposure, hard continuous work, disturbed sleep and by the constant strain and jar to body and nervous system which work in the front line brings, but in whom a constitutional weakness is difficult to determine. 3. A third chief group comprises patients who may be regarded as exhibiting delayed convalescence from acute illnesses such as rheumatic fever, pneumonia, pleurisy, dysentery, trench fever, severe influenza or tonsillitis. 4. A not inconsiderable group, though its size is still indeterminate, is that comprising actual though unrecognised infection, including incipient tuberculosis,* local pus infections, infections of the intestinal tract. 5. A small group in home hospitals is that of delay in recovery from gas poisoning. * It seems not improbable that a number of “effort syndrome” patients may be in reality incipient and healing tuberculosis.
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