TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11512, 7 October 1915, Page 4

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

"SOUL-BLINDNESS." ■ ■ + A man caught between a loccnrrtive and a buffer had a contused wound on the head which gwo him severe pain; ho was totally deaf and had' pains in tihe pelvic bones when he came under tho observation of Dr Herzog, who reports the case to the " Deutechcs Mediaiiiische Wochenscrift." Tho deafness stood out prominently, while the other svmptoms passed away. Tho patient had lost all sense of smell and was unable to read either printed or written language or even his own handwriting. He comprehended the Jitters, but could not name them. He had, however, a good, rapid eomD< eheiision, correct memory and good "judgment. He understood the use of many objects the tin mo of which had gone from him. When shown a pocket-handkerchief be said, "for wiping." For eyeglasses he s;iid "for seeing." Some familiar ol>jfcts he could not understand at all.; others ho recognised by feeling them when In- could nob by looking at them. l)r He[/.<):/, tsaid he was word-blind.

the "Medical Record" translates "a certain ci'ogrco ol : soul-blindness."