Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1917-10-18
Physicians VIII Study "shelI Shock.

American medical officers will devote
their coming winter to special study Of
the diseases peculiar 10 the war and war
conditions, in addition TO their work at
the forward casually clearing stations on
the French and British fronts.
AT the casualty stations they will get
all the experience they desire in the mar
velous war surgery which has made
such rapid strides in the past three years.
They will be framed in all The medical
phases OF the work in the field at special
schools. The first OF these schools will
be established this month at the hospital
taken over by the Johns Hopkins hospital
unit soon after the tirst contingent OF
American troops landed in France.
One subject to which much attention
will be devoted will be that OF "shell
shock" which has proved troublesome
to both the British and French medical
officers. Neurologists attached TO the
various American units will study the
problem al British and French hospitals
and aiterward will give lectures TO their
fellow medical officers both IN the hos
pitas and attached 10 the troops in train
ing.
There is no more pitiful object in the
world than man acutely suffering from
shell shock. Hypnotism has been used
frequently as a cure for shell shock. II
stops the trembling and twitching in
most cases, but of late il has become 10
be regarded as not real cure. The
British have found that soldiers suffering
from shell shock who do not have hyp-
motto treatment invariably get back TO
duty quicker than those who do.
Shell shock often causes deafness,
dumbness and blindnesS-the effects OF
the concussion from an exploding missile
nearby. A man may be tossed about by
three or four shells without getting hit by
a fragment or a splinter, but the effect ot
this tossing always tells on the nervous
system.
Some OF The worst shell shock cases
have been those where soldiers were
buried under The earth thrown up by huge
proiectles. Such burial does moi always
affect the men that way. II is related
that recently when an old British ser
geant was dug out from under a ton or
more OF she'll debris and asked il he was
hurt, he replied "No sir, am not, but
! am certainly strong for a separate
peace"
A remarkable thing about shell shock
cases is that none occur during big bat
tie. The reason tor this is perfectly
plain. In battle The men are buoyed up
by The excitement, are pressing forward
and are often engaged in hand-to-hand
fighting while all about them is the con-
tinual roar Of battle. They often become
absolutely oblivious 10 exploding shells
under these conditions until actually hit.
Shell shock comes when the men are
compelled 10 sit in trenches Tor long
periods or when they are out on nerve
testing patrol duty between the fighting
lines at night and a big German missile
bursts Unexpectedly over them.
The treatment OF shell shock cases is
often closely akin 10 that for temporary
insanity. The doctors and other attend
ants strive always TO get the confidence
OF their patients and try TO start them
talking, when the trembling and other
manifestations frequently disappear.
Various phases OF insanity will be a
very important branch OF medical study
this winter while the doctors are waiting
for the Americans TO 90 into the trenches.
Already number OF cases OF mental
breakdown have been treated in the hos
pitals. With one or two exceptions.
however these cases have been those
usually met with in civilian life. the delu-
sions having little 10 do with the army or
The war.
One rather pitiful case is that Of man
who never gave the slightest trouble, but
imagines every night that he is TO be shot
al dawn.