Shell-shy; war bride pregnant: Fugue with amnesia and mutism.
Case 174. (Myers, January, 1916.)
A rifleman, 30 years old, was brought to a casualty clearing station, looking like an imbecile, with a history of having wandered about aimlessly, not knowing where he was or what he was doing. On questioning, he remained absolutely speechless and terrified. Four days later, in conversation with Major Myers, he was got to speak in a faint voice about his wife, home, and occupation, saying that the month was October (when it was actually August) and that he had been in France two months, when it was actually twelve. He described emotionally certain trench scenes, and then thought of his wife sewing.
Hypnotized, he remembered going into a dug-out after running away from shells; he was made to talk in a loud voice. Next day, during hypnosis, proper orientation for time reappeared. He was got to write an ordinary soldier’s letter to his wife. The following day he was active, making beds, but was mute (there was a case of mutism in the same ward). Under hypnosis speech returned. He had gone to a horse show, and upon his return, something hit his back; shells had begun to fall. Found hiding in a shack, he was carried to a hospital in an ambulance. After this hypnotic treatment, the power of speech was maintained, although his voice became faint or failed whenever he was asked about the incidents described above. Next day he waked speaking normally, nudging his neighbor and asking, “Is it me that’s talking?” He had before appeared dull and depressed, but now appeared an intelligent, agreeable, and garrulous fellow. It appears that his wife was a war bride and he had heard some months since that she was pregnant. He had been troubled, thinking she was in money difficulties and kept thinking about a friend whose wife had lost her first baby. Recovery appears to be complete except for occasional headaches, and the patient is now serving in his reserve battalion.