Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1920 Excerpt: ... sorts of combinations of symptoms imitating other diseases have to be included in our survey and kept in mind as not infrequent accompaniments of this form of nervous breakdown. It would be difficult, therefore, to overestimate the importance of the matter we have now under consideration. Subsequent analysis of the factors leading up to hysteria will show us that nervous instability in the family tree, and, in the individual, over-emotionalism and abnormal suggestibility are three important influences; that wherever there are conditions favouring their action and interaction hysteria soon appears. Thus in communities, large or small, when feeling tone is raised to an abnormal level hysterical outbreaks become prominent. Religious revivals, political disturbances, crazes of all kinds, and acute international situations, obviously provide a setting favourable for the reaction of emotionalism and suggestion on large masses of people; all the more so during the course of so stupendous a conflict as that which has lately shaken civilization. Further, as the strain of war falls for the most part on armies in the field so it is not surprising that in the nervous disorders of active service hysteria occupies an important place. When we come to discuss the psycho-neuroses of war more detailed consideration will be given to this aspect of the question. Amongst the most readily observable of hysterical states, weakness of limbs figures prominently. In its most advanced development there is paralysis of one side of the body (hemiplegia)--the arm and leg, with possibly the face muscles on the same side, being thrown out of action; or, more commonly, there may be paralysis of both arms or both legs (paraplegia). Not infrequently hysterical paralysis affects single limbs...
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