Post rheumatic “paraplegia” (or abulia?) cured by removal of crutches, after question of discharge “unfit” had been raised.
A soldier, 23, had fever with swelling of several joints and temperature in 1915, and was furloughed to England. He complained of pains in the limbs and shortness of breath, and was put in hospital. As he did not improve, he was sent to a special hospital for baths and electricity. There he remained from August, 1915, to March, 1916, with D’Arsonval baths, cataphoresis, electric treatment and massage.
He was now sent to the second Northern General Hospital to see whether he should be discharged permanently unfit. Here he shuffled along on two crutches, very tremulous, and sweating, and suffering from palpitation on exertion. He wanted to take poison if he could not be cured.
The crutches were taken away. He was asked to walk up and down. He had to be supported at first and fell several times. The exercises were continued. Massage and drugging were stopped. The next day he was able to stand alone. In twenty-four hours he walked by himself. The other patients in the ward encouraged him on account of the genuine exertions he was making to get well. April 7, he returned to duty, smart and well set up.
Babinski and Froment always give the suspected subject the benefit of the doubt, never uttering the word simulation in the presence of the soldier, and proceed to psychotherapy; for psychotherapy will act to cure simulation or exaggeration just as it acts to cure hysteria. They say that in their experience, all these disorders of doubtful nature—that is, that lie diagnostically between hysteria, exaggeration, and simulation—are as a rule cured by resort to psychotherapy provided that the due amount of energy, tact, and perseverance is employed. See also remarks under Case 453. Veale’s case (511) never showed mauvaise volonté, and nothing more than aboulia.