Evening star., 1938-12-01
BY THOMAS R. HENRY.

The convulSlon- producing drug,
metrazol. used with considerable
success during the last year In men
tai hospitals in the treatment of
dementia praecox. now Is being en-
ployed experimentally at George
Washington University Hospital in
the treatment of the neuroses.
which constitute one of the most
common of human ailments.
Apparent success of the treatment
in approximately IS per cent Of the
cases was reported to the District
Medical Society last night by Drs.
Walter Freeman and H. D. Shapiro.
The drug is given in the out-patient
clinic three times week and the
neurosis victims are able to con-
tinue their daily work. they reported.
>Metrazol, injected into the blood,
produces convulsions tndistinguish-
able from those of epilepsy. It was
first introduced In the treatment of
dementia praecox in Hungary about
two years ago, on the theory that
this most prevalent of all mental
diseases had a natural antagonism
to epilepsy. Later extensive tests at
st. Elizabeth's Hospital and else
where show that it often produces
what appear to be complete cures if
given during the early stages Of the
psychotic condition. 1t has also
proved of great value in shortening
the duration Of the various types
of manic-depressive insanity. These
often clear up spontaneously any,
way, but without the treatment
may last for several years.
Unconscious of Convulsion.
The patient presumably is en-
tirely unconscious OF the epileptic
convulsion. In the few minutes in
tervening between the injection Of
the drug and the spasm, however,
there is . terrifying sensation Of
impending death. On awakening.
patients at st. Elizabeth's, according
to a report to the Medical Society
last night by DR.. Alexander Simon
of the hospital staff, seem to have a
confused memory of having passed
through q terrible experience and
to feel that they are fighting their
way back from the grave. AS one
man described it, he felt as If "he
had just ridden on q locomotive
through hell"
In the treatment Of dementia
preacox . large number of metrazol
shocks is necessary and the patient
is kept constantly under observa-
ton. In treatment of neurotic
patients Drs. Freeman and Shapiro
give only three to six shocks and
use . considerably smaller dosage
of the drug.
Victims Of neurosis constitute q
great majority of all the folks who
act queer but cannot be considered
insane. A good example is the So
called shellshock" war veteran.
DR.. Shapiro described one case of
"shellshock" treated at the George
Washington clinic, which was suf-
fered by . Washington man after
the big stock market crash in 1929.
This condition also includes the vast
number of persons who are con-
stantly complaining of all sorts Of
maladies, but who show no organic
symptoms.
Unable to Face People.
One case described last night was
that Of . stenographer In one Of
the Government Offices who attend
ed school At night and thus wore
herself down physically. Then she
became involved in an unfortunate
love affair. 1t all ended in = con-
dition where she found herself un-
able to face people. Six metrazol
shocks apparently have brought
about a complete cure.
Another case was that of q post
ONCE clerk who became the victim
of = violent temper and found it
hard to restrain himself from beat
ing up his wife and children or from
fighting with his fellow workers.
This case also apparently has been
cleared up by six metrazol shocks.
Some chronic cases Of more than
four years duration have been
cleared up, DR.. Shapiro said, but the
two physicians are not claiming any
cures until there has been time for
any after effects to show themselves.
One Of the most common forms Of
neurosis IL the state Of extreme
anxiety and feeltng q insecurity.