Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-22
FEW CASES OF INSANITY
DUE TO WAR, EXPERTS SAY
First Reports OF Men Going Crazy
Under Fire of Modern Artil-
lery Exaggerated.
DATA FOR Ten MONTHS OF 1918
French Figures Offered as Refuta-
ton of German Theory That Teu-
tonic Race Is Showing Greater Ner-
vous Resistance Than Latin.

PARIS. July 2l.-Thc war has not
driven mad so many persons as was an
ticipated in the carly stages. sta :
tis;ics thus far show that tho frs,
Internal fire of modern artillery we're
exaggerated
DR.. G. Dumas. who has treated all
the cases of mental trouble in one Of
the French armies, says that his data.
covering the first ten months OF 1915,
agrees with the reports of German
doctors concerning madness among
combatants.
He finds the cases of insanity caused
directly or indirectly by the war in
France arc quite as few in proportion
as those in Germany, and offers the
hgures as reiutation of the theory Of
German specialists that the Tnutonic
race is showing greater nervous re-
sistance than the Latin.
DR.. Dumas's report covers l.lSS cases
OF arrangement, of which only BE-
per cent were cases Of general paraly-
Sis. while in most asylume in time OF
peace the proportion is Is per cent.
rms he taxes as conclusive evidence
mat the fatigues and connections of
wai nave no influence uron the de-
relopment of this form of insanity.
General paralytics. however, when
they become delirious. rave about the
war. the same as cases in which the
symptoms are quite different. and Dr.
DUMAS concludes that the life of the
cotNbatart often simply gives a war
color TO delirium that would have ex-
iSt"u uh"er normal circumstances, but
in different form
HORROR inspired by battle scenes.
sometimes works directly on the ner-
vous system. developing symptoms such
as hysteria. speechlessness, deafness.
loss Of the sense of feeling, it's of men.
II Ctr,,
accompanied by hallucinations or de-
lirium.
Optimism of the most exaggerated
type is the dominating note in the
hailucinations of the paralytics. and
or Dumas considers IL a wonder that
oiiccrs do not in hts OF exaltation give
absurd heroic orders that lead TO dis
aSters.
CAPTAIN SUFFERS FROM FIT
OF EXAGGERATED OPTIMISM
In one case lieutenant who declared
10 the doctor that he had Cleaned out
German trench with two machine
guns that he had carried on his back
from point several miles in the rear"
mad remained in command of his sec
tion until forty eight hours before he
was examined. y few days later a
captain was brought to Dr.. Dumas,
fresh from the command of his com
nit of exaggerated OPTIMISM
DR.. Dumas reports seventeen cases OF
what he calls reasoning Madness in
which the fatigues and connections of
war have had no influence. but in which
Authorizations previously existing were
applied TO the war. An artilleryman
who. before the war, ina gned that he
was charged with the defense of the
Radical and Socialist members OF Par
Lament against what he cons idercd the
calumnies of the Royalists and Ma
tonalists OF the right" was brought
TO hospital suffering from q tumor.
He Immediately divided the nurses OF
the hospital into two parties. the left
and the right. end would have nothins
to do with the latter. while he began
TO fall in love with one after another
OF the nurses Of the left
The mentally dcbilitnted are largely
represented In the statistics. OF lS5
cases. 10 were sent to the rear as
being permanently inapt for further
armed service. and fifty-five, who pre-
scented symptoms of delirium. were in
termed. Several of these DR.. Dumas
says. owe their mental condition to
fatieues and connections OF war and
All OF them derive the themes OF their
delirium from tEHir experiences at the
front. There are among them Messiahs
come to announce the final victory,
messengers designated b. Joan of Arc
TO SHOW the way to success. spiritual