SHELL SHOCK

Hokitika Guardian, 21 February 1917, Page 1

SHELL SHOCK

Ab instance of the distressing resu'fc of shell shook—phock to the brain and nervons system in consequence of injury by high explosives—came under tie not'ce of ihe Third Weilingt;-n Military S«rvtco B ard on Tnesdav. Toe appellant had biwo serving in the New Zeal u d sr*i!l>ry ft roe at the front, in France. , Questioned by the chairman of the board (Mr W. H. S. Moorhens*) and by his coomeJ, Mr A W. Biair, tbe sufLrer said : “ I temember going across from EogLud to Fratce, -hot after that my mind is prac icdily a blank. Ido cot remember the cav.s of my commanding officer at the rim , nor the date tor piece where I wa* rendered unconscious by the sh M shock. When I 1 came to ’in hospital in Eogland I did not remember leaving New Zealand. Even row I feel f ha effects at times and bave to give up work for a apsii. Medical officers tell me that in time the strange effects wi’l wear off and my memory and nerves w 1! be re stored to a normal state.” 'Similar cariotm effect* of (• jury to the brain of high exolorive shack s e mentioned ; for instance, tbe memory going back to some slight occurrence long prior to the date of 'he shtU shock—the intervening period of time having become quite a blank In the case, however, of young soldiers, otherwise in good health, the Bfcrange insult in time disappears, and the sufforer recovers his normal condition.