Crural monoplegia: Cured by hypnosis.
Case 534. (Hurst, 1917.)
A Belgian soldier fell into mud on the collapse of a roof from which he was observing the enemy. It was an hour before he got his left leg out of the mud, and found it fixed in extension. He was sent to England, where for three months the leg remained stiff. The spastic paralysis did not seem organic as the leg was dragged behind. The knee and ankle could be bent only by using much force. The entire leg was in all ways anesthetic. Babinski sign gave additional proof that the condition was hysterical: when the patient lay with arms folded and legs apart and then tried to sit up, the normal leg was lifted and the paralyzed leg remained flat.
According to Hurst, the paralysis and stiffness were due to an autosuggestion from the legs being embedded in mud. The anesthesia was probably a matter of medical suggestion produced in the course of examination during the three months of disability. According to Hurst, Babinski is right in supposing that hysterical anesthesia is almost invariably produced by the observer.
Accordingly a strong faradic current was passed through the leg, and he was assured that sensation and power would be restored. However, he could still walk only with difficulty.
Hypnosis was therefore resorted to and repeated on several occasions. He went back to duty in three weeks, although he still held the leg somewhat stiff when he walked.
Re recurrences after hypnotism, see remarks of Nonne under Case 530. Howland also notes that cases treated by hypnotism must be followed up to prevent relapse. In the above case of Hurst’s, it will be noted that the hypnotic treatment was several times repeated.