Devereux] MOHAVE ETHNOPSYCHIATRY AND SUICIDE 243 



Appendix 1. A Havasupai Case 

 CASE 65: 



X STATE HOSPITAL, CLINIC SUMMARY: 



Havasupai Indian. 



Diagnosis. — Dementia praecox, hebephrenic type. 



The above-named patient was admitted to this hospital on April 20, 1929, and 

 is (years later) still an inmate in this institution. 



Personal and family history. — This young Indian boy, who is a ward of the 

 Government, is totally inaccessible. He sits around the ward and laughs, smiles, 

 and grins in a silly fashion. He also has some mannerisms. 



Mental examination. — When spoken to, he will answer with a silly grin ; 

 otherwise, it is impossible to get him to answer any questions whatsoever. 

 Considering the history that he gave on his admittance paper, and his general 

 appearance and actions since being in this institution, it is felt that this is 

 undoubtedly a case of dementia praecox — hebephrenic type. 



Neurological examination. — The neurological symptoms are negative, with 

 the exception that his pupils are inclined to be dilated, ovoid, and rather 

 irregular. This dilated and ovoid condition of the pupils is found very frequently 

 in the dementia praecox conditions, and especially in this type. 



Physical examination. — Physically, he is in excellent condition and does not 

 show somatic pathology of any kind. 



Comment 



On being told that this young patient had been unable to speak to anyone for 

 approximately 9 years, because no one in that Hospital could speak the Havasupai 

 language, I asked him in the related Mohave tongue one or two questions. 

 Although the patient did not reply, his face lit up with so happy a smile that the 

 physician felt impelled to remark that, as far as he knew, this was the first time 

 this patient had ever shown any sign of an appropriate reaction. The tragedy 

 implicit in this case is too obvious to stand in need of discussion. 



Appendix 2. Two Yuma Cases 

 CASE 66: 



A.B., a Yuma Indian, had to be hospitalized in X State Hospital. 

 Diagnosis: Unknown. 



CASE 67: 



A. H. M., a Yuma Indian woman, had to be hospitalized in Y State Hospital. 

 Diagnosis: Unknown. 



Comment 



The need for hospitalization suggests in both cases the likelihood of a pseudo- 

 schizophrenialike condition — probably a transitory confusional state, aggra- 

 vated and made chronic by hospitalization away from the tribe. 



MANIC-DEPRESSIVE PSYCHOSIS 



According to Tcatc "Some people alternate between excitement and 

 depression. This is brought about by too much worrying. This 

 worrying goes to the point where they are almost out of their minds." 



