Under observation, August 7, a sturdy, robust man. Somewhat dull in demeanor. Senses intact. Cranial nerves negative. Tendon and skin reflexes lively, especially on the right. Memory intact, except for above-mentioned oniric delirium with restlessness and shouting at night, especially while falling asleep and waking up. Frequent intense dizziness.
The condition remained unchanged for a week. Patient transferred to another department, for acute catarrhal bronchitis with fever.
Sniper stricken blind in shooting eye.
Case 296. (Eder, March, 1916.)
An Australian, 19, was admitted to hospital for loss of sight in the right eye. There had been a right ptosis from childhood. January 7 nothing could be perceived but light.
According to the patient, he was sniping through a loop-hole, November 15, when a bullet knocked a piece from the stock of his rifle. He continued at his post. There were five more shots, when another bullet struck the sand around the loop-hole. His right eye began to water. He shut the loop-hole and retired for an hour. His eye improved, he returned, opened the loop-hole, braced the rifle, and found he could not see the sights. He went to the physician. Vision grew rapidly worse, and in a few hours perception of light failed. He had been stricken blind in the shooting eye (the seat of a congenital deformity).
Anticipation of warfare: Hysterical blindness.
Case 297. (Forsyth, December, 1915.)
Anticipation of warfare may provoke a neurosis as in a case of Forsyth’s. The man went blind training in England.