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Italian Psychological Literature

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 February 2018

Extract

The Archivio for 1873 and 1874 contains fewer original papers than usual, though some of them are of particular interest and importance. Professor Verga continues his very detailed and careful account of General Paralysis, from which I can only find space to extract the following points. He remarks that inequality of the pupils is not peculiar to that disease, but occurs in all other varieties of insanity connected with organic affection of the brain. Some stress is laid upon the occasional loss of power over other involuntary muscles, of the bladder and intestine, causing ischuria and constipation, which are often relieved by the use of strychnia. It is singular to observe that some paralytics in Italian Asylums cease to open their mouths freely when they speak, as is the custom of their countrymen; but “speak between their teeth, like the English.” In other cases, Dr. Verga has noticed that these patients always shout, as if they were speaking to deaf persons, either from not being able to regulate, or from not observing the loudness of their voice. He has also observed that, in the early stage of the disease there is occasionally genital excitement with persistent priapism. He sums up all the causes of general paralysis under the head of abuse of the moral and intellectual powers, or of the cerebral functions.

Type
Part III.—Psychological Retrospect
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists 1875 

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