Shell-shock with loss of consciousness: Deafmutism, rhythmic head movements, anesthesia, asymmetrical areflexia. Recovery by suggestion with faradism, massage and reëducation.
Case 588. (Arinstein, September, 1916.)
A Russian private, 30, literate, lost consciousness upon the explosion of a large shell, November 10, 1915. He was brought to hospital, November 14, completely deaf and dumb, and with his head rhythmically swaying sidewise 60 to 70 times per minute. The swaying ceased during sleep. The head was carried inclined to the right; there was complaint of headache. The left leg, the trunk and the hairy part of the head were anesthetic. The knee-jerks were obtained with difficulty, the Achilles jerks were lively; the throat and conjunctival reflexes were absent; the abdominal and cremasteric reflexes were lively. The right plantar reflex was absent; the left normal. The vision of the right eye was impaired, and there was a monocular diplopia of this eye. The drum membranes were pulled in, and the disorder of hearing was explained on the basis of labyrinthine shock.
After a séance of written suggestion with faradism to neck and small palate and vibratory massage to throat, speech returned. November 26, the patient read in a loud voice a written phrase. He did not speak again independently until early in December, when he read aloud written matter. The return of spontaneous speech was gradual. Hearing returned December 5, when he was able to hear in the right ear by means of a tube. In the sitting posture there was less swaying of the head. If the patient lay down, rhythmic movements of the head became stronger and more rapid (120).