The effect of disposition.
The temperament of the patient must always be taken into consideration, the neurotic type seldom recovering so quickly or so completely as the more plethoric.
The effect of status.
A complete recovery is far more likely to occur when the status of the patient allows of complete rest, bodily and mental, for some considerable time subsequent to the accident. A premature return to work, with possible added family troubles, invariably acts as a deterrent to complete recovery. In the milder cases a few weeks suffice to allow of restoration to health, in other cases an interval of at least one year should be allowed before the patient again takes up his duties. It is obvious, therefore, that family troubles and business emergencies influence to a marked degree the completeness of recovery. It might be anticipated that the financial necessities of the case would cause the various after-results of head-injuries to be more marked amongst the labouring classes. The personal equation, however, enters largely into the question, and due allowance must be made for the greater financial and social losses entailed when the injury involves one who occupies a high social sphere. It must also be borne in mind that those occupying such spheres may not benefit from the Workmen’s Compensation Act.
On referring again to English’s cases, it was found that the wage-earning capacity of the patient afforded a valuable clue in the estimation of the remote results in general. Thus in Series 1 and 2 the following results were obtained:—
Series 1. 86 cases:
| 52 | carried out the same work at the same wages. |
| 13 | carried out lighter work. |
| 7 | could do but little work. |
| 8 | had to take to other work, less dangerous. |
| 6 | were totally disabled. |
Series 2. 78 cases:
| 51 | carried out the same work at the same wages. |
| 12 | worked as before, but without much interest. |
| 6 | were compelled to undertake lighter work. |
| 4 | could do a little work. |
| 2 | gave up their trade for another, less dangerous. |
| 3 | were totally disabled. |
Thus 59 per cent. in Series 1 and 80 per cent. in Series 2 were able to do the same work at the same wages as previous to the accident.