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This is not just another book on the war neuroses. The reviewer fully agrees with Professor Emilio Mira, himself a great authority on these maladies, who states in the preface that to his knowledge there is no other book that so ably and so accurately presents to the physicians of his continent an insight into the etiology, diagnosis and treatment of war neuroses.
This book consists of twelve chapters, an appendix and an index. It is well arranged so that anybody, general practitioner or specialist can read it with ease and understanding. The author, who is an experienced clinician, illustrates his concepts with excellent case records
This book starts with the actual problems of the war neuroses, in which the author briefly reviews what is hitherto known about this subject, and then gives his own experiences.
Under the “shock neuroses” (due to explosions and projectiles) the author gives a very excellent discussion of the physical effects of such shocks, and then discusses the clinical manifestations, such as the hysterical and epileptic symptoms, the emotional and neurasthenic syndromes and their treatment.
The chapter on “Hysteria” is particularly interesting, for the author gives here an excellent description of the symptomatology, classification of the pathogenesis, and especially of hysterical conversion. Being well versed in psychoanalysis the author speaks intelligently about the various forms of hysteria, such as stupor, somnambulism, narcolepsy, etc.
Other noteworthy topics treated in the book are: the neuropathic disturbances, differential diagnosis and treatment, the affective neuroses, the special syndrome created by the war and the conditions which engender them, and the problem of predisposition.
Chapters X and XI deal with the various methods of psychotherapy employed in special cases and the results obtained through them. The author speaks from first hand experience and his views will surely be of great benefit to those who will have to occupy themselves w