STUPOR LASTING MORE THAN SEVEN YEARS WITH RECOVERY

Abstract

The patient, a male age 56, father of 10 children was a government servant in one of the states in India for the last 22 years. He was a hard and conscientious worker and had risen from the post of a clerk to that of assistant chief of his department. He had no physical or mental illness except dangue fever in 1918. In February ‘944 his chief died. Because of some state intrigue he was then transferred to another department, that required going from the state capital to the rural areas for his official duty. In April ‘944, while out of the city on duty, allegations were made against him by his adversaries. He was suspended from duty in July 1944, and a court of inquiry was established to investigate the charges against him. The patient returned to the city and insisted upon knowing what these charges were. He was given evasive replies and the chief minister of the state refused to grant him a personal interview. He was very anxious and tense but could do nothing till the inquiry began. He remained in this state of tension for about a month and a half. Failing to obtain an interview he telephoned the minister and talked to him in very strong language as he was very bitter against him. Soon thereafter he complained of not feeling well. He feared that he might fall sick, and so he handed over the key of the safe containing all the family property accounts and important documents to his father. His son, a medical man with postgraduate qualifications, attended him from then onward. On September 14, 1944, he became semiconscious. Next day his temperature went up to 103#{176}F. Malarial parasites (benign tertian type) were found in his blood. He had 2 sharp bouts of fever on the following 2 days, after which he became stuporous. He remained in this state until January 1952. There was no active movement of any part of his body during this period. His limbs would remain in any awk-