Case 553. (Bruce, May, 1916.)

A soldier was admitted to the Royal Victoria Hospital, Edinburgh, completely deaf in the left ear. He had been under shell fire a number of times in France and was eventually thrown down and made unconscious by a shell explosion on his left. He did not remember the noise of the explosion or anything until he found himself in hospital. After the explosion he had begun to stutter, and the stuttering had grown worse. Examination of the ear indicated that the deafness was functional. He was given ether and when just under was asked if he could hear anything spoken in his right ear. He said, “Yes.” With the right ear closed he was asked if he could hear when his left ear was spoken into. He said, “No.” This test was repeated several times. After covering his right ear, he gave his name, regiment, etc., in reply to questions whispered into his left (previously deaf) ear. The incongruity was pointed out. He was now suddenly wakened. He laughed hysterically with joy over his recovery.

But the next morning he was again stone deaf in the left ear. Blistering and electricity failed to produce benefit. He was, however, puzzled about himself.

After a fortnight he was again given ether and a little chloroform was added. The yes-no test was again positive. He was allowed to recover gradually from the chloroform, but he had now lost recollection of what had happened. The left ear remained deaf. Ether was again given. He was asked to close his right ear with his finger. While answering questions addressed to his left ear, he was suddenly awakened and immediately said that his hearing had come back. This return proved permanent. He returned to his dépôt. In the conversations under ether there was no stuttering. He had been totally deaf in the left ear for five months.