Chart 4
PHASES OF WAR PSYCHIATRY IN FRANCE
| I. | Antebellum phase of Psychiatric Neglect: Groundless fear that recruiting would be disorganized by psychiatric sifting processes. |
| II. | Phase of Alcoholism of Mobilization: Hospitals unprepared. |
| III. | Phase of the Marne: Alcoholism restrained by law; psychoses few; psychiatrists optimistic. |
| IV. | Phase of Trench Warfare: Overemotionality; and of High Explosives (January, 1915); now psychiatric services were systematically established along evacuation lines. |
| V. | Phase of Systematic War Psychiatry: Filterwise system of management (a) near trenches, (b) in main body of army, (c) on evacuation lines, (d) special hospitals. |
Chiefly from data of Chavigny, 1915.
Pathological intoxication: criminal prosecution stopped.
Case 87. (Loewy, 1915.)
An orderly, in private life a teacher, one day about noon-time, when going on duty, called the commanding officer to account because he (the orderly) had had to wait. He said he had been ordered to come at two o’clock and it was already long thereafter! He was severely reprimanded but addressed a number of the officers present with questions having no relation to military service. In fact, he seemed to have forgotten entirely that he was on military service.
This was the more remarkable as the teacher-orderly had many times distinguished himself upon dangerous patrol expeditions and in critical situations, winning the confidence of his superiors and the likelihood of promotion to corporal. He had been a discreet, earnest, and clever soldier.
Loewy observed him during this affair and noticed that he did not by language or movement suggest intoxication or hilarity but merely a certain excitement. He was entirely oriented for time, place and person, and his outward behavior was correct enough except for his military rank.