pathology of lying-第17章
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The record of admission and treatment given in one hospital is of peculiar interest。 She was received there four years ago and evidently had been unable just previously to take care of herself properly on account of roaming。 Her clothing was dirty and her head unclean。 She was found to have the old appendicitis scar； which contained a small sinus。 She remained in bed after admission； complaining of much pain in her abdomen； not well localized however； and would lie moaning； crying； and rolling across the bed。 She was then running a slight temperature。 After a time an operation was decided upon and a hairpin was found in the abdominal wall； undoubtedly inserted through the scar by the patient herself。 （The findings of the surgeon in Chicago； then； revealed a repeated performance。）
At another place the patient maintained she was unable to urinate； but at the same time strongly resisted catheterization。 From the variability of her complaint it was found it could not be caused by a local condition； and examination showed no reason for the difficulty。 Analysis of her symptoms undertaken at this time led to several stories； one about urethritis； which Inez claimed to have contracted from her brother at 3 years； an episode when she had received a great fright during micturition； an incident when she had seen a man exposed when she went to the toilet。 （Of course； our experience with this type of case leads us to appreciate the difficulties of psychological analysis with extreme liars。）
On one occasion she entered a hospital； claiming to have been recently injured； she had been taken in a supposed fainting condition from a car。 Then it was she maintained that she had been struck by an iron bar and that a spike had entered her back。 She also claimed at this time to have had her toes frozen。 Study of the case here； too； showed no signs of injury or frost bite。 On another occasion she told of having been dropped by a nurse while being lifted from a bed。 Altogether her stories and her simulations have been convincing enough to get for her on many occasions good attention during at least a few days。
We can get no account of true hysterical signs being discovered by any one。 There has been no showing of anything but that she is a liar and a simulator。 In the hospital records the portions devoted to previous history are thoroughly vitiated by her untruthfulness； and they contain statements which offer great contradictions； one to the other。
Inez has been observed； then； for two long periods by psychiatrists。 While at the end of neither period were the observers willing to state that the young woman was compos mentis； still their verdict in this matter had to be made up from considerations of her social behavior rather than from what they were able to discern by direct observation of her mental processes。 From one case…record we read that ‘‘The patient was quiet； pleasant； and agreeable； replied promptly and intelligently to questions； and talked spontaneously of her affairs。 She was quite clear as to the environment； had apparently a satisfactory memory； with the exception of a recent period preceding admission。 Her statements； too； were probably not altogether truthful； but frequently a reason for the untruthfulness was made out。 She thought that her mind was all right； but complained of having occasional difficulty in thinking。''
Another prolonged study of her mental status was made four years ago。 From the record we learn that there were no apparent reactions to hallucinations。 Consciousness was clear and the patient was completely oriented for time； place； and persons。 The train of thought was coherent and relevant。 Questions were readily answered and attention easily held。 Memory was fair for most events。 School knowledge was reasonably well retained。 Judgment； to this observer； seemed impaired； although no definite delusions could be elicited。 Emotionally she was found more or less irritable； fault finding； and at times a trifle despondent。 （Certainly the latter would be a natural reaction under the circumstances。） Often； however； she was found cheerful and contented。 No special volitional disturbances were noted。 Was found to act in an hysterical manner when she felt ill。 She was neat； tidy； and cleanly in her habits。 Appetite was good and she slept well。 Such was the report from the institution where she was held for six months。 There was no material change in her condition during this time； she showed herself very proficient with the needle； she was discharged when her sentence expired。
We note a statement from one hospital that this ‘‘girl'' gave no evidence of having had any direct sexual experience； or that she had ruminated much over these matters。 Her story about frequent fainting attacks given at this time was not corroborated by observation。 The diagnosis from one hospital was neurasthenia； but investigation of her case in most places seems to have led merely to the conclusion that she was a tremendous liar。
Notwithstanding our long record of this case and the accounts which have been handed in to us of experiences with her in other localities； we do not presume to know a tithe of the places Inez has been to or lived in during the last eight years。 It is more than likely that she herself would find it difficult to give any accurate account of her rovings。 At the time we first saw Inez her parents had not heard from her for about three years。 Shortly after this we found that she had renewed correspondence with them and had sent them money as if she were now prosperous。 Her family have all along； in spite of her stories； been poor。 At one period she visited several cities in the southeastern states and was at a hospital in one of them。 In Charleston there is a family by the name of B。 （spelled the same as the name of the people she was with in Tennessee）。 These were the people Inez asked us to write to in an appeal； because they had long known her and were wealthy； for a chance to get an education。 She stated they were immediate relatives of the B。's in Tennessee； and that she had visited them once at their fine home in Charleston for three or four months。 These people replied to us that they had been receiving letters for years from associations and organizations in regard to this girl whom they had never seen。 They were convinced she had assumed their name because she had understood they were well…to…do and liberal。 ‘‘We know nothing about her education； but judge she has enough to dupe people with； posing as poor at one time； sick at another； and anxious for an education at another； as you inform us。''
From another correspondent with whom Inez had lived in Alabama for a few weeks we had a marvelous tale which they heard from her。 She had told them she formerly lived in the most beautiful part of New Orleans and when 5 years old was placed in a convent； and then taken to a boarding…school； from which she was kidnapped and taken to a small town in Georgia。 She was later placed in another boarding…school and there met the wealthy B。's of Charleston who took her home with them。 While there she had to go to a hospital on account of some infection。 One day she was thrust into a taxicab； taken on a boat； landed at another city； etc。 The B。's of Charleston have thus figured long in her story； and we learned from several correspondents that this kidnapping has figured over and over as a big event in her life。
Once； years ago； Inez was taken into a private home accompanied by a trunk； we hear； which was found to contain a considerable amount of jewelry。 This was pawned in the name of the people with whom she then lived and was redeemed later by some one else。 Inez laid claim to the jewelry after a time； but apparently was unable to produce anybody who could vouch that it was really hers。 Its ownership has remained unknown。
When she went to St。 Louis at one time she had stated she was to meet a relative there； but the person； we have come to know； was a certain very decent young man who had become acquainted with her through a correspondence bureau。 He had thought well of her and warned her not to come to that city； but when she did so he met her and too
