86 CASE HISTORIES 



for him and were talking about him behind his back. He reached 

 this hospital after some months and believed he had been sent 

 here only for discharge. He saw nothing wrong with his mind, 

 but sometimes it got sleepy, and his legs felt weak. 



Sex life: His attitude was very resistive, but I succeeded in 

 getting some information. He admitted masturbation but 

 wouldn't tell how often. He had always been bashful and un- 

 successful with girls. He had never had a best girl, that was all 

 damn foolishness. A wife was nothing but a moneysucker. He 

 had never danced, he was too clumsy. He had never had hetero- 

 sexual intercourse, nor committed perversions. 



His wet dreams were of accidents to which he was a spectator 

 only. Wagons and automobiles ran away, tipped over, and broke 

 the legs of the passengers who were always men. There was 

 much blood. These dreams were not unpleasant. Another typ- 

 ical dream was of work, work, working in the shop. He denied 

 dreaming of women. 



He had not been able to get an orgasm since entering the 

 hospital. 



Fantasies: He sometimes seemed lost in thought, and smiled 

 or chuckled to himself, but he never would divulge what amused 

 him. Often he looked furtively at other patients and then went 

 off into silent glee as if ridiculing them. Any laughter he heard 

 on the ward he immediately attributed to himself and swore furi- 

 ously under his breath. The occupational therapist frequently 

 heard him muttering to himself, and once he exclaimed angrily 

 to her, "If you call me a fool, I'll be damned if I'll work for 

 you," when she had said nothing at all. He went away scowling 

 and would not work for a couple of days. 



In answer to questions he denied seeing visions or hearing 

 voices or feeling that electricity or any outside force or influence 

 was being used on him. ("Do you think other people are com- 

 bining in a plan to hurt you?") "Yes, by talking about me. 

 ("What do they say?") Gee, I don't know myself!" 



General observations: He had a great sense of grievance 

 and felt that other people were imposing on him. He was very 

 self-conscious and constantly on the defensive, looking for slights. 

 Any friendly advances were rudely rebuffed, for he suspected 



