ilyperalgesia confined to certain spots, circum scribed areas of anaesthesia, or an•sthesia of a half of the body, hysterical deafness, hys• terical blindness, twitching of muscles, or eon traetures of groups of muscles, the `alobus hysterieus.' or feeling of a lump in the throat, spasmodic closure of the glottis with pseudo asthma, retention of urine, paralysis (either hemiplegia or paraplegia), palpitations the heart, flushing of face, neck, and scalp. with sweating, coldness of extremities or of the on tire body, (edema of the extremities, menstrual] irregularities. and vomiting of fluid. are among the symptoms of the disease. Mental changes are certain to occur, amounting only to lack of balance and of will power, or impairment of memory in some, in others also recurring melan choly. rapid emotional play, lack of power of application. impaired judgment, diminished re gard for truth, and craving for sympathy. The last two symptoms are the basis for the peculiar actions of 'fasting girls;' self-mutilating mar tyrs: alleged sufferers who feign paralysis. pain. tumor, stone in the bladder, etc., and who eagerly
submit to surgical operations.
hysteria is not dangerous to life. Recovery is rare in prolonged eases, though proper treat ment may he followed by cure in eases ill which symptoms have reappeared upon provocation many times in the course of n year or two, harshness used on the erroneous supposition that willfulness or perversity is at the foundation of hysteria always does harm, and is unjustifiably brutal. Relief of strain and of worry, change of environment, removal of the patient from home and from accustomed companions in the family. and treatment for indigestion, restoration of function. and nerve-building,. form the prin cipal features of remedial agencies. Will power must be systematically eultivated, and moral support be given to the patient. Massage, elec tricity, diet. baths. and sometimes a rest cure, are efficacious. See INSANITY; HYPNOTISM ; TEMPERAMENT. Consult : Janet, Etat mental des hysterigues: les accidents trzentaus (Paris, 1894) ; Richer, Paralysies et contractures hystd riques (Paris, 1892).