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.
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