按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
andled through the police court and was sentenced to a state hospital for the insane for a term of 6 months。 The charge was that she was an idle person and a beggar； and she was regarded as perhaps being unbalanced。 The report from this town is that she would be taken with ‘‘spells of apparent violent illness on the street； in the trolley cars； at railroad stations； and so be carried to various hospitals and doctors' homes。'' She has visited numerous cities； getting her sustenance largely through hospitals and physicians。
After being admitted into one famous hospital and showing some of her curious manifestations she was transferred to a state institution in the vicinity to be studied for insanity。 Correspondence with one physician tells the story of how five years ago he was called from a medical meeting to attend this ‘‘girl'' who had been taken from a trolley car into his home。 She was apparently suffering great pain in the region of the old appendicitis scar and she was conveyed in an ambulance to a hospital。 After investigation for a few days； it was decided she was hysterical or a simulator。
On numerous occasions her feigned illness has been so apparently overcoming that she has had to be transferred in an ambulance to a hospital。 One of her usual performances has been to get into some home or institution and then keep others awake all night with her signs of distress。 It is interesting that she has used the same methods over and over again； but has been adroit enough to vary the illnesses which she has simulated。 At one time investigation in a hospital seemed to show that she was neurasthenic。 She has been given chances in homes for convalescents； but has never maintained herself in such a place for long。 We note she was sent back from one of these to the main hospital on account of having vomited the medicine she had been given。 In fact； she has repeatedly been found resisting the treatment which had been prescribed。
The record of admission and treatment given in one hospital is of peculiar interest。 She was received there four years ago and evidently had been unable just previously to take care of herself properly on account of roaming。 Her clothing was dirty and her head unclean。 She was found to have the old appendicitis scar； which contained a small sinus。 She remained in bed after admission； complaining of much pain in her abdomen； not well localized however； and would lie moaning； crying； and rolling across the bed。 She was then running a slight temperature。 After a time an operation was decided upon and a hairpin was found in the abdominal wall； undoubtedly inserted through the scar by the patient herself。 （The findings of the surgeon in Chicago； then； revealed a repeated performance。）
At another place the patient maintained she was unable to urinate； but at the same time strongly resisted catheterization。 From the variability of her complaint it was found it could not be caused by a local condition； and examination showed no reason for the difficulty。 Analysis of her symptoms undertaken at this time led to several stories； one about urethritis； which Inez claimed to have contracted from her brother at 3 years； an episode when she had received a great fright during micturition； an incident when she had seen a man exposed when she went to the toilet。 （Of course； our experience with this type of case leads us to appreciate the difficulties of psychological analysis with extreme liars。）
On one occasion she entered a hospital； claiming to have been recently injured； she had been taken in a supposed fainting condition from a car。 Then it was she maintained that she had been struck by an iron bar and that a spike had entered her back。 She also claimed at this time to have had her toes frozen。 Study of the case here； too； showed no signs of injury or frost bite。 On another occasion she told of having been dropped by a nurse while being lifted from a bed。 Altogether her stories and her simulations have been convincing enough to get for her on many occasions good attention during at least a few days。
We can get no account of true hysterical signs being discovered by any one。 There has been no showing of anything but that she is a liar and a simulator。 In the hospital records the portions devoted to previous history are thoroughly vitiated by her untruthfulness； and they contain statements which offer great contradictions； one to the other。
Inez has been observed； then； for two long periods by psychiatrists。 While at the end of neither period were the observers willing to state that the young woman was compos mentis； still their verdict in this matter had to be made up from considerations of her social behavior rather than from what they were able to discern by direct observation of her mental processes。 From one case…record we read that ‘‘The patient was quiet； pleasant； and agreeable； replied promptly and intelligently to questions； and talked spontaneously of her affairs。 She was quite clear as to the environment； had apparently a satisfactory memory； with the exception of a recent period preceding admission。 Her statements； too； were probably not altogether truthful； but frequently a reason for the untruthfulness was made out。 She thought that her mind was all right； but complained of having occasional difficulty in thinking。''
Another prolonged study of her mental status was made four years ago。 From the record we learn that there were no apparent reactions to hallucinations。 Consciousness was clear and the patient was completely oriented for time； place； and persons。 The train of thought was coherent and relevant。 Questions were readily answered and attention easily held。 Memory was fair for most events。 School knowledge was reasonably well retained。 Judgment； to this observer； seemed impaired； although no definite delusions could be elicited。 Emotionally she was found more or less irritable； fault finding； and at times a trifle despondent。 （Certainly the latter would be a natural reaction under the circumstances。） Often； however； she was found cheerful and contented。 No special volitional disturbances were noted。 Was found to act in an hysterical manner when she felt ill。 She was neat； tidy； and cleanly in her habits。 Appetite was good and she slept well。 Such was the report from the institution where she was held for six months。 There was no material change in her condition during this time； she showed herself very proficient with the needle； she was discharged when her sentence expired。
We note a statement from one hospital that this ‘‘girl'' gave no evidence of having had any direct sexual experience； or that she had ruminated much over these matters。 Her story about frequent fainting attacks given at this time was not corroborated by observation。 The diagnosis from one hospital was neurasthenia； but investigation of her case in most places seems to have led merely to the conclusion that she was a tremendous liar。
Notwithstanding our long record of this case and the accounts which have been handed in to us of experiences with her in other localities； we do not presume to know a tithe of the places Inez has been to or lived in during t