Daughter of Silence by Morris West

Author:Morris West
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
ISBN: 9781760638306
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Published: 2017-07-09T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

THE AFTERNOON SESSION opened tamely, on a note of academic calm. Professor Galuzzi took the stand and Carlo Rienzi led him through a short resume of the testimony he had given in the morning. Then Rienzi began to ask for definitions.

‘Professor, I wonder if you will be good enough to explain to the court the meaning of the words “trauma” and “traumatic psychosis”.’

Galuzzi smiled, coughed, adjusted his pince-nez, and explained: ‘Literally, the word “trauma” means a wound. In the medical sense, it signifies a morbid condition of the body caused by some external disorder. In the psychiatric sense, it means much the same thing – a scar caused by emotional or mental shock. The words “traumatic psychosis” describe a disordered state of mind induced by the trauma. If I may explain more clearly, a scar on the finger is a trauma – not a very serious one. The scars left by major surgery are also traumas. There are similar degrees of scarring to the human psyche.’

‘And the more serious traumas are always persistent?’

‘Always. Though time and treatment may diminish their effects.’

‘Correct me if I am wrong, Professor, but does not the word “psychosis” describe a deep-seated, grave and more or less permanent mental disorder?’

‘In general terms, that’s true.’

‘So that a psychotic patient is always, in greater or less degree, handicapped?’

‘Yes.’

‘Let us take some simple examples, Professor.’ Rienzi’s tone was mild, almost deferential. ‘A child loses a beloved parent. Would you call this an emotional shock?’

‘Most certainly.’

‘It would leave a scar?’

‘Yes.’

‘Which might reveal itself through some psychic infirmity in later life?’

‘It might – yes.’

There was a small silence in the court. All eyes were on Rienzi as he walked back to his table, picked up some papers and then returned to Galuzzi. There was a change in him now. His shoulders straightened, his tone became crisper, the tempo of his questions grew faster.

‘Let us take the case of Anna Albertini. She had lost both her parents by the age of eight. According to the evidence of the prosecution, her mother was executed by a firing-squad. How would you judge the scar inflicted on her young mind?’

‘A very grave one.’

‘Another question, Professor. You say you carried out tests on the prisoner. What was the nature of these tests?’

‘In general terms, they consisted of a medical examination, a neurological survey and a modified form of analysis.’

‘You know, then, that although she has been married for four years she is still a virgin?’

‘Yes.’

‘You would agree that this indicated an abnormality in her relations with her husband?’

‘Yes.’

‘How did you diagnose the abnormality?’

‘As a condition of sexual incapacity in the accused related to and probably induced by her childhood experiences.’

‘In other words, by the trauma, or scar, we have been talking about? Would you describe Anna Albertini as a psychotic subject?’

‘Yes.’

‘In other words, Professor, what you are saying is that she is mentally infirm?’

The Prosecutor stood up, protesting: ‘I object, Mr President. The question leads the witness to a conclusion which is properly the function of the Bench.

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