A clinical study of Gilles de la Tourette's disease (maladie des tics) in children.

Abstract

In his search of the literature for cases of a similar nature, Gilles de la Tourette was much impressed by reports of analogous syndromes in other cultures: latah, myriachit and jumping(13). term latah conveys to the Malays a curious behavioral quirk, or aberration, normal, and yet not quite so.(14). The latah reaction consists of a severe startle reaction, imitative behavior, automatic obedience, and coprolalia. The victim is compelled against his will(15) to imitate the speech and behavior of others and to obey their commands, even though his tormentors clearly intend to degrade and ridicule him. He may even injure himself in the compulsion to mimic a self-destructive gesture only partially demonstrated by the person who teases him. For example, if the tormentor makes a sudden movement as if to place his hand in a fire, the latah victim may burn his own hand(16). Myriachit is the transliteration of a Russian word for an identical syndrome, one of a group classified as arctic hysteria...