L.'s brother died of paralysis. He himself presents no degenerative signs; no epileptic antecedents. During the time of observation he is neither insane nor mentally weakened. He behaves himself very well, and expresses great regret for his sexual crimes. About himself he states that, though no drinker, he occasionally has an impulse to drink. Soon after beginning, congestion of the head, vertigo, restlessness, anxiety, and oppression come on. He then passes into a dreamy state. An irresistible impulse now forces him to expose himself; and he then experiences a feeling of relief and breathes more easily. When he has once exposed himself, he knows nothing more of what he does. As precursors of such attacks, he had often, a short time before, had flames before the eyes, and vertigo. For the time of his clouded state of consciousness, he had but a clouded, dreamy memory.
It was only after a time that sexual ideas and impulses had become associated with these apprehensive, cloudy states of consciousness. Years ago, in such states, without motive and with great danger, he had deserted; once he had jumped from a third-story window; on another occasion he had left a good position to wander about aimlessly in a neighboring country, where he was at once arrested for exhibition.
When, outside of his abnormal periods, L. once became intoxicated, there was no exhibition. In the lucid state his sexual feeling and intercourse are perfectly normal. (Dr. Hotzen, Friedreich's Blätter, 1890, H. 6). For other instances, vide Cases 153, 155.
A clinical group that very nearly approaches the epileptic exhibitionists is made up of certain neurasthenic individuals, in whom, likewise, there may occur attacks (epileptoid?) of imperfect consciousness[1] in connection with a feeling of apprehensive oppression; and with this sexual impulses may be associated, resulting in acts of exhibition having an impulsive character.
- ↑ Comp. v. Krafft, "Ueber transitorisches Irresein bei Neurasthenischen," Irrenfreund, 1883, No. 8.
