Unilateral hallucinations : their relative frequency, associations, and pathology / by Alex. Robertson, M.D.

  • Robertson, Alexander, M.D.
Date:
1901
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Licence: In copyright

Credit: Unilateral hallucinations : their relative frequency, associations, and pathology / by Alex. Robertson, M.D. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    In this connection the group of phenomena that form the subject of the following paper are of considerable interest; so also is the relation in which they stand to each other, and to similar events in other parts of the nervous system, such as the motor, sensory, and even nutritional spheres ; how far they may be considered as simply analogous conditions without causative connection, and to what extent, in certain cases, they may be correlated. Besides, as merely important incidents in the disorders of which they are symptoms they merit close observation. Attention will first be directed to one-sided hallucinations of the different senses. It has long been known that hallucinations, instead of being apparently derived from the double organs which minister to the sense or senses involved, may seem to arise from only one of these organs,—may, in short, be unilateral. Thus Brierre de Boismont, in his book on hallucinations, refers to Calmeil's observations on phenomena of this kind, and more particularly to those of M. Michda, who named them d'hallucination d^'doublee. He quotes from the latter a striking case in illustration, and also states that such hallucinations occur in the senses of touch, sight, and hearing. Gall relates the case of a Minister of State in Vienna, who was constantly hearing insulting expressions on the left side, so that he was very often turning his eyes in that direction to see where they came from, although. Gall adds, perfectly convinced on the right side of his head that they were delusions of the left side. Griesinger states that a patient was under his care in whom the hallucina- tions of hearing were confined to the left side throughout the whole duration of his insanity. Van der Kolk narrates the case of a female patient who was continually plagued by the devil talking in her left ear, and remarks, This is, moreover, the only case with which I am acquainted where the hallucina- tions were confined to one ear. These references will suffice to show that the older Con- tinental physicians were familiar with the occurrence of this class of psycho-sensory disorders. When my own attention was directed to the subject in 1874 by a case of mental disease in which left-sided hallucinations of hearing were present, 1 could find no reference to this group of symptoms in English medical literature. With the view of ascertaining the fre- quency of their occurrence, as well as from the interest I felt