There are innumerable physical symptoms of the disease, but the mental phases have most to do with the treatment. The hysterical person is characterized by an overmastering desire to be an object of sympathy, interest, admiration, rather than by a tendency to baser instincts. The will is weak, the emotions explosive, the patient is impulsive and lacking in self-control. She readily goes from absurd laughter into floods of tears. She simulates pains and other symptoms of disease, and she is always a liar, no matter what her state in life, from nurse-girl to nun.
Acquired hysteria may be cured, but the congenital form is virtually hopeless; yet even with this latter kind much can be done by patient training. Such a girl or boy must be reared carefully and with a firm hand. A marked congenital hysteric should not marry. Marriage makes them worse, and they beget other hysterics. When a hysterical girl gets one of her fits the chief obstacle to cure is sympathetic visits from relatives and friends. If a patient in the vapors is taken from school and wept over, she will never come down to earth again. The girl who faints at the communion-rail regularly is always a hysteric, and the cure for her is a bucket of cold water in the sacristy, or a threat to turn her over to the police. You will find these fainters with a perfect pulse despite the faint. But there are other cases in which rough treatment is harmful, and the only method is patient tact. Such persons are objects of great pity and should be dealt with as one would deal with any deficient mind.
ACUTE YELLOW ATROPHY OF THE LIVER IN PREGNANCY
Acute yellow atrophy of the liver in pregnancy was formerly called Icterus Gravis. The disease is not necessarily connected with pregnancy, but half the cases are in pregnant women, and with them it may appear at any time in gestation or shortly after delivery. Pernicious vomiting, eclampsia, sepsis, chloroform poisoning, typhoid, osteomyelitis, diphtheria, erysipelas, alcoholism, or phosphorus poisoning in pregnant women may end in this acute yellow atrophy. Bendig[138] reported two cases, both fatal, which were caused by syphilis.
[138] _Münchener medizinische Wochenschrift_, August, 1915.