ABSTRACT
The contrast in psychiatric theory between the two wars rests principally in the views taken of the emotional aspect of the patient's mental life. There is also a contrast in practice. Good fortune sometimes sends us a case which aptly illustrates some view of illness psychoanalysts are interested in; occasionally they find one which enables to make a brief historical review of psychoanalyst's theories. Such is the case of a soldier of 28 who received superficial gunshot wounds of the right arm and leg on active service and thus incommoded made his way to the coast during the retreat wandering about for five days unable to get treatment. Treatment would have followed within the framework of reference of the psycho-pathology. It will be remembered that he quickly recovered from his physical injury and fell ill of his hysterical paralysis on return to his depot.
