Several soldiers in Paris, France in 1918 were reported to be suffering from amnesia to escape punishment for deserting their units. All of the cases reported are of Native American soldiers. Three cases are discussed here they are all thought to have feigned amnesia. This conclusion was reached due to details being recalled that should not have been recalled. One case of amnesia that has been accepted as legitimate is also discussed.
Dr. Mayo discusses the 1831 case of Elizabeth Moffat, an 18 year old that took Unguentom Lytcee by accident, and then seemed to pass into a state of double consciousness. Ms. Moffat's normal state was dull and quiet, her other state was a of extreme excitement. The excited state and the dull state remembered nothing of what the other state had recently learned. Ms. Moffat eventually returned to her normal state full time. Dr. Mayo did not believe her to be faking the excited state.
Two cases are covered by Dr. Myers. The first case is of Louis V. He suffered from epilepsy, hysteria and paralysis after a great fright from a viper. His memory would occasionally relapse back to a previous time period. Later in life he would oscillate back and forth between two personalities. Each personality seemed to be controlled by a different side of the brain. The second case is that of Felidia X. She suffered from the presence of a second personality. She was able to function in both of these states due to being put into a hypnotic trance. Dr. Myers compares the two cases on the grounds of morals vs. biology.
This is a clinical case presentation of a young man, described as being very suggestible, hypochondriacal, and without motivation. The symptoms began after contracting typhoid fever in the Spanish American war, and after a head injury. The man traveled to London and South Africa in this alternate personality. He also became unaware of his surroundings and did not recognize his doctor, confusing him with a not very friendly acquaintance. The patient is described as being very amenable to hypnosis which had limited effects in controlling his alternate state.
A man develops amnesia after he is accused of a crime. He forgets the last several years of his life once he is accused of the crime. Dr. Mayer analyzes the patient to decide if his amnesia is a conscious choice or an unconscious one. No definitive conclusion is reached.
Dr. Skae discusses a case involving an individual in the legal profession who suffers from a case of double consciousness. The patient alternates days of great health and vigor with days of a state between hypochondria and mental alienation. On the poor health days the patient surrounds himself with Scriptures and Psalms. The patient has also suggested suicide when in this state. On his days of good health the patient has no recollection of these bad days, but can remember his previous good day.
Dr. Burnett discusses the case of a young man. The child was determined to be in the ministry at age five. Soon after this decision, the child started to suffer from various types of intense head pain, that lead to periods of a changed personality. As he grew, this also manifested itself with bouts of depression. A few episodes of violence also followed when the boy was under treatment at a sanatorium. After a session of intense mental suggestion, the patient no longer suffered from a dual personality or amnesia. He was then able to recall all actions of both sides of his personality. The article is followed by a discussion among several doctors about the case and similar ones they have encountered.
This case of amnesia combined with dramatic personality change is considered a result of an undetermined head injury. The physician describes an adult male, who upon hospitalization complained of pain in the left side of his head. The patient underwent brain surgery, and consequently changed handedness from left to right. The patient did not remember his personal history spanning the last fourteen years. While under hypnosis, the patient's last memories were ten years prior. After ten weeks of observation, patient had no other symptoms and was released. Yet after his release, the patient reported another episode of unconsciousness.
The authors first define dissociation, describe it as a functionally adaptive process, and suggest that it may be an instinctive defense. The authors suggest that the absence of appropriate dissociation in the face of emotionally overwhelming events may lead to psychosis or other serious mental disturbances. The authors then describe three cases of psychogenic amnesia in previously healthy soldiers with no family or personal history of dysfunction. The first case of amnesia was observed in a soldier who witnessed a member of his company decapitated by a shell, the second in a soldier who saw his fiancee mortally wounded by a bomb, and the third in a sergeant who gave an order that led to the deaths of 122 men.
Dr. Myers discusses the case of Louis V. His case is compared to that of Felida X. Louis V. ‘s 2nd personality emerged after a scare with a viper. He developed other personalities due to various causes after that point. In all he is said to have six separate personalities. Some of these personalities also suffer from paralysis or epilepsy, some are gentle, other resort to thievery and mischief. Dr. Myers includes a chart to show the differences between the personalities.
