RT Journal
A1 GRADLE HH
T1 THe blindness of hysteria
JF Journal of the American Medical Association
JO Journal of the American Medical Association
YR 1909
FD April 24
VO LII
IS 17
SP 1308
OP 1310
DO 10.1001/jama.1909.25420430004002a
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.1909.25420430004002a
AB It has long been known that in hysteria disturbances of sight occur comparable to the anesthesia in other sensory regions. In relatively rare instances the disturbances may amount to one-sided or double-sided complete transient blindness. More common, however, is the mere reduction of sight usually associated with contraction of the visual field and some disturbance of color perception. As the full literature is readily accessible in de Schweinitz's excellent article on hysteria1 it is unnecessary to repeat it here. My main object in relating my own experience is to show that the problem of psychic diminution of sight is a live one and not merely an academic question, since neurologists often quote the statement that the hysterical patient is neither conscious of nor annoyed by a certain degree of one-sided or even double-sided visual imperfection. My experience has shown me that the real importance of psychic influences on the