Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 August 1919 — Sustained Nervous Energy Always Demands an Outlet [ARTICLE]

Sustained Nervous Energy Always Demands an Outlet

It has been discovered that cases of people who have been exposed to the fear of being torpedoed are suffering from symptoms suggestive of shell shock. Doctor Ciunet, in a communication to the Neurological society of Paris, has described the mental effects observed when on board a ship which was torpedoed. After the first excitement following the attack it was observed that several passengers discharged guns into the air or into the sea. In other words, the sustained nervous energy found relief in letting loose the Immense energy concentrated in explosives. Similarly, it was well known at the front that a long day of waiting, in the trenches was productive of more cases of shell shock than a day of active engagement with the enemy. Next there were a few cases of suicide among the passengers. These passengers were on the whole calm enough, even on the life rafts. It was pniy wltfn they were on the rescuing

■nip tnat psycnoneural phenomena began to develop, including mutism, spasmodic weeping, laughter, tremors, spasmodic movements of the limbs, etc.