Page:Psychopathia Sexualis (tr. Chaddock, 1892).djvu/404

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PSYCHOPATHIA SEXUALIS.

oppression, and congestion of the head. In this condition he had often been giddy, and experienced an indistinct feeling of sexual excitement. At the height of such states he had left the house, without any purpose in view, and exposed his genitals anywhere. When he had reached home again, he had had but a dreamy remembrance of what had occurred, and felt very weak and depressed. It is also remarkable that, while exhibiting his genitals, he had used lighted matches to make them visible. The opinion was to the effect that the criminal acts depended upon epilepsy, and were imperative impulses; but he was, nevertheless, sentenced, with the assumption of extenuating circumstances. (Dr. Schuchardt, op. cit.).

Case 171. L., aged 39; single; tailor. His father was probably a drinker; he had two epileptic brothers, one of whom was insane. The patient himself has slight epileptic attacks, and from time to time states of imperfect consciousness, in which he runs about aimlessly, and thereafter does not know where he has been. He was considered a moral man, but he is now accused of having exhibited and played with his genitals in a strange house five or six times. His memory of these acts was very imperfect.

On account of repeated desertion from the army (probably likewise in epileptic states of imperfect consciousness), L. had been severely punished. In imprisonment he became insane with "epileptic insanity," was sent to the Charité, and from there discharged "cured." As far as the criminal acts were concerned, cynicism and wantonness could be excluded. That they were committed in a state of imperfect consciousness is probable from the fact, among other things, that to the policeman who arrested him, the "imbecile," who was then in a cloudy state of consciousness, was in a remarkable mental state. (Liman, Vierteljahrsschrift f. ger. Med., N. F. xxxviii, H. 2.)

Case 172. L., aged 37. From October 15th to November 2d, he had many times given offense, by exhibiting himself to girls in daylight on the open street, and even in schools, into which he forced himself. It happened occasionally that he wanted the girls to perform manustupration or allow coitus, and, when refused, he performed masturbation before them. In G., in a public-house, he rapped on the window, with his penis exposed, so that the children and servant-girl in the kitchen were forced to see it.

After his arrest it was ascertained that since 1876 L. had very frequently caused trouble by exhibitions, but had always escaped punishment, owing to the demonstration of mental disease by physicians. On the other hand, he had been punished for desertion and theft in the army, and, later, once, as a civilian, for stealing cigars. L. had repeatedly been in asylums on account of insanity (attacks of insanity). Besides, he was often remarkable on account of his changeable, quarrelsome character, occasional excitement, and inconstancy.