Neurasthenic symptoms: Cured by repeated hypnosis.
Case 545. (Tombleson, September, 1917.)
A private, 24, was admitted to hospital with diagnosis neurasthenia, March 11, 1916. He suffered from vertical headache; general analgesia, more definite on the right side (patient left-handed); loss of smell and taste, also more definite on the right side; paresis of right leg, with dragging of foot (old trench foot); and sleeplessness.
The next day Tombleson put him in a hypnotic state, third stage, and again, March 13, but without results.
March 14, the somnambulistic stage was reached in hypnosis, and next day the man’s headache was much relieved as a result of the suggestion offered. He was again hypnotized and the following day, March 16, the headache had vanished and the man was in general much improved. In somnambulism the disappearance of the analgesia was suggested, and it proved possible to make the man walk about without limp and without dragging the right foot. Next day the analgesia was much relieved. In somnambulism the suggestions were repeated.
March 18, the man said he was quite well, and proved to be so on examination, except that he could not yet taste with absolute normality on the right side. In somnambulism it was further suggested that the cure was a perfect one and included the sense of taste. However, March 25, the expected improvement had not yet occurred in the taste, whereupon further suggestions were given in hypnotic somnambulism, re taste. Next day taste had become normal.
Re hypnosis, Tombleson says that the most successful cases of hypnosis are those of Shell-shock psychasthenia, but that he gets very good results with hyperthyroidism and with neurasthenia also. He goes so far as to say that practically all cases of war neurasthenia and psychasthenia can be cured and sent back to work if treatment by hypnotic suggestion is used in a reasonable time.
Neurotic symptoms: Improvement under repeated hypnosis.