A newspaper cure.
Sicard read in a French newspaper a story to the effect that, at two o’clock in the afternoon, a soldier had fallen on the sidewalk between Nos. 40 and 42 Boulevard de Liberté, in a nervous crisis. The people ran and picked him up. When he came to, he was very joyful, perceiving that the shock had given him back his speech, which he had lost the August previous. This soldier, the newspaper continued, became deafmute through the explosion of a bomb in a fight in Upper Alsace. “The brave soldier is most happy over the unexpected result.” The newspaper went on, “We congratulate him sincerely, as well as the people who assisted him.” He was the more contented that he had gotten well because, the soldier said, he would now be able to go back among his comrades to fight with the Boches!
Now, in point of fact, Sicard had dealt with this soldier the morning of the day in question. He had been simulating mutism for ten months, and finally told Sicard that he would like to leave that afternoon as he felt cure coming. Sometime after, he wrote a letter of profuse thanks for the benefits received, and said he did not deserve to avoid court-martial. He also said that he was going to do everything he could to justify himself. Incidentally, he kept his word and an officer in his regiment later gave him an enthusiastic recommendation.
Re malingering, see discussion concerning simulateurs de création and simulateurs de fixation under Case 453.