A NEURASTHENIC DISEASE.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 September 1924, Page 4

A NEURASTHENIC DISEASE.

\YKI I.INCTON. Sepieiul.er I

‘■| 10-jiilalisatioii is the name <J a not uncommon complain! which hospital patients develop shortly bolero or after discharge.” states Sir Donald M’davin. Medical Admiuisl nil or of Pensions, in his annual report. The disease occurs in cases where patients have been a long time in lifspil:il.' They n:e treated at the iioiindogical, centre at llaiinier Springs. The patients generally leave the institution greatly improved, with increased sellreliance. PiifoiLunalely they constantly relalse whenever exposed to any anxiety or strain, such as may ari-e in their domestic or business lite. A returned soldier is insl as likely to sillier in this way as a person who did not. go to the war (and in some cases more so, not because of tin' strain to which be was subjected aL the war. but because on bis return to New Zealand lie dropped behind a little in the struggle for existence). The clerk takes up kind, lie lias no knowledge of farming. Ids farm fails, he and his family are in grave financial difficulties and he immediately develops neurasthenic 'symptoms. Hi- failure lie attributes not to his lack of knowledge, but to the fact that hi- health was ruined at the ' mil his proof to himself and family of this is lii.s present state of neurasthenia. Domestic troubles

are just as common. A < ivilian patient will admit these domestic troubles; a service patient blames the war and liis erudition for lii.s altered stale of feelings. His wife also blames the stress of war. It is obvious that neither party would in any way consider that anything else was the (ause, because it is natural to blame something, an.i also because that to which they lay the blame will bring in monetary assistance.” ‘‘lt is difficult to know to what extent such relapses should lie accepted as entitled to further treatment or pension when it is so dear that in the. majority of eases the condition is constitutional and not reasonably attributable to service. This does not refer in any sense to malingering. Pure malingering is rare, although a partial form which consists in oxaggeratin of existing symptoms is undoubtedly common.”