The horror of the First World War's trenches and mud are
well-known; the effect of war on the mental health of soldiers has
been perhaps less well reported. It was during the war, in which
heavy artillery was used for regular and prolonged periods that the
phenomenon of 'shell shock', psychiatric disorders resulting from
exposure to bombardment, was first diagnosed. This film, which was
made at Royal Victoria Hospital in Netley and Seale Hayne Military
Hospital in Devon in 1917, towards the end of the war, shows the
various symptoms of 18 British soldiers suffering from shell shock
disorders, and their treatment by Royal Army Medical Corp
neurologists.
The film displays symptoms and demonstrates their cure, though
the means of the cure is sometimes obscure: physiotherapy and
hypnotic suggestion are shown. Many of the symptoms are physical:
disturbed gaits and uncontrollable tics. Though it can be harrowing
to watch footage of men still clearly deeply traumatised by their
experience of war, there are also moments of quiet humour and
pathos. Private King is cured of his 'hysterical gait', but still
proves too incompetent at digging to be put to work on the
hospital's farm and so is made the hospital librarian.
In a paper published in 'The Lancet' by the physicians involved
in the making of this film, Dr AF Hurst and Dr JLM Symns, an
emphasis is placed on the rapidity of recovery: 'we are now
disappointed if complete recovery does not occur within 24 hours of
commencing treatment, even in cases which have been in other
hospitals for over a year.' The use to which cured patients might
be put is perhaps hinted at by the film's final scene in which
convalescent soldiers re-enact 'The Battle of Seale Hayne'.
The mental health of soldiers is still an issue in Britain
today, with continued military involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan,
and the Ministry of Defence continues to fund specialised
psychiatric treatment for military personnel.