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INANCIAL
ACCOUNTING
FOR MANAGEMENT
An Analytical Perspective
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INANCIAL
ACCOUNTING
FOR MANAGEMENT
An Analytical Perspective
FiFth edition
AMBRISH GUPTA
Senior Professor
Finance and Accounts
FORE School of Management
New Delhi
Delhi • Chennai
Copyright © 2016 Pearson India Education Services Pvt. Ltd
Published by Pearson India Education Services Pvt. Ltd, CIN: U72200TN2005PTC057128, formerly
known as TutorVista Global Pvt. Ltd, licensee of Pearson Education in South Asia
No part of this eBook may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without the publisher’s prior
written consent.
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right to remove any material in this eBook at any time.
ISBN: 978-93-325-5949-3
eISBN: 978-93-325- 7360-4
Head Office: A-8 (A), 7th Floor, Knowledge Boulevard, Sector 62, Noida 201 309, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Registered Office: Module G4, Ground Floor, Elnet Software City, TS-140, Block 2 & 9 Rajiv Gandhi
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Fax: 080-30461003, Phone: 080-30461060
www.pearson.co.in, Email: companysecretary.india@pearson.com
To
My Father
and
My Late Mother
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BRIEF CONTENTS
Chapter 1 Measurement of Profit and Financial Position: I Business Transactions to Recording in Journal 2
Chapter 2 Measurement of Profit and Financial Position: II Journal to Trial Balance 32
Chapter 3 Measurement of Profit and Financial Position: III Trial Balance to Balance Sheet and
Profit and Loss Account: Non-corporate Entities 59
Chapter 4 Measurement of Profit and Financial Position: IV Corporate Entities 75
Chapter 5 Vertical Financial Statements of Corporate Entities 128
Chapter 6 Specific Day Books 141
Chapter 14 Corporate Financial Statements of Nestle India Ltd Along With Notes to Accounts and
Significant Accounting Policies 340
Chapter 15 Other Mandatory Financial Reports 389
Chapter 16 Quality of Earnings: Window Dressing, Creative Financial Practices and Issues Related to
Quality of Disclosures in Reported Earnings 414
Chapter 17 Financial Statement Analysis and the Tool Kit of the Analyst: I Multi-step, Horizontal,
Vertical and Trend Analyses and Analytical Balance Sheet 436
Chapter 18 Financial Statement Analysis and the Tool Kit of the Analyst: II Earnings Per
Share (EPS) Analysis 476
Chapter 19 Financial Statement Analysis and the Tool Kit of the Analyst: III Ratio Analysis 498
Chapter 20 Construction and Analysis of Corporate Cash Flow Statement 548
Chapter 21 Model for Strategic and Integrated Managerial Financial Analysis of Annual Report 606
Chapter 22 Analysis of Information from Sources Other than Annual Reports and
Inter-company Comparison 616
Chapter 23 Analysis of Group Performance: Consolidated Financial Reporting 632
Chapter 24 Emerging Dimensions in Voluntary Financial Reporting: Contemporary
Analytical Techniques 679
CONTENTS
Chapter 1 Measurement of Profit and Financial Position: I Business Transactions to Recording in Journal 2
Introduction 3
India—The Place of Origin of Modern Accounting 4 chapter
1
The Anatomy of Business 5
Assets 5
Liabilities 6
Financial Position 7 Measurement of Profit and
Income 7 Financial Position: I Business
Expenses 7 Transactions to Recording in Journal
Financial Performance 7
The Accounting Process 8
Analysis, Documentation and Recording of Business
Transactions 9 Monetary Business Transaction
Analysis 9 Transactions
Documentation Recording
Analysis
Introduction
Classifying Business Transactions
Summarising Business Transactions
33
33
36
2
Application of Other Fundamental Accounting Measurement of Profit and Financial
Concepts 43 Position: II Journal to Trial Balance
Realisation Concept 43
Money Measurement Concept 43 Recording Classification
Exercises, Cases 55
The process that leads to the measurement of financial performance and position of an
enterprise is known as Accounting Cycle. Accounting Cycle forms the very basis of financial
accounting. This chapter covers the cycle up to trial balance.
3 Measurement of Profit
Trial Balance to Balance Sheet and Profit and
Loss Account
Analysis of Trial Balance
61
61
and Financial Position: III Need for Adjustments 62
Trial balance to Balance Sheet and Profit Inventory Valuation 63
and Loss Account: Non-corporate Entities Construction of Balance Sheet and Profit
Monetary
Transactions Trial Balance
and Loss Account 64
Transaction
General Instructions and Observations for
Preparing the Two Financial Statements 65
Analysis Analysis of Trial Balance
Recording
Classification
Inventory Valuation
Bharat Scientific Products Enterprise 67
Summarizing:
Construction
of Financial
Statements
Balance Sheet
P & L Account
Recap of Fundamental Accounting Concepts 70
Trial Balance
Recap of Adjustments 70
Concluding Remarks 71
Brief Analysis of Results
This chapter finally completes the accounting process of measuring the business performance
Keywords 71
and financial position by illustrating the construction of balance sheet and profit and loss
account of Non-corporate entities. Exercises, Cases 72
Contents xi
Chapter 4 Measurement of Profit and Financial
Position: IV Corporate Entities 75
Introduction
Basic Features of the Company form of Business
Organization
76
78
4
Registration Under the Companies Act 78
Types of Companies 79 Measurement of Profit and
Preliminary Expenses 80 Financial Position: IV Corporate Entities
Board of Directors 80
Financial Statements of Companies 80
Share Capital 81
Public Issue Expenses 83
Accounting Treatment of Share Capital 83
Form of Financial Statements 98
Some Features of Financial Statements 99
Issue of Shares at a Premium 106
Bonus Shares 107 From non-corporate, this chapter moves over to measurement of profit and financial position
of corporate entities. Company form of business organisation has certain peculiar features and
Recap of Adjustments 117 its financial statements are drawn in the format prescribed by the companies act, 2013.
5
Introduction 129
Vertical Form of Financial Statements 129
Key Distinctive Features of the New Format 131
Process of Construction of Financial Statements
Vertical Financial Statements of in the New Form 132
Corporate Entities Vertical Financial Statements of Shashaank
SHASHAANK INDUSTRIES LTD.
Industries Ltd. 133
BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31-03-20CY
Merits and Demerits of Vertical Format 138
EQUITY AND LIABILITIES
Shareholders’ Funds
Note No. Amount (`)
Treatment of ‘Miscellaneous Expenditure Not W/O’
Share capital
Reserves and surplus
Sub-total….
1
2
14,95,000
1,22,570
16,17,570
and ‘Debit Balance of Statement of Profit
Non-current Liabilities
Long-term borrowings
Other Long term liabilities
3
5,85,000
….
and Loss’ 139
Long-term provisions
Current Liabilities
Sub-total….
4
…..
5,85,000 Treatment of Tax Expenses 139
Short-term borrowings
Trade payables
Other current liabilities
9,85,250
6,45,540
1,15,761
Concluding Remarks 139
Short-term provisions
Sub-total…..
TOTAL…..
2,46,143
19,92,694
41,95,264
Keywords 140
References 140
The corporate financial statements are now required to be presented in vertical form.
Hence it is necessary to develop knowledge of how they are constructed.
Exercises 140
xii Contents
142
6
Sales Book/Sales Day Book/Sales Journal 146
Cash Book/Cash Day Book/Cash Journal 149
Concluding Remarks 156 Specific Day Books
Keywords 157
Exercises 157
Comparability
Completeness
Substance over Form
Understandability
Prudence
Neutrality
Relevance
Materiality
Research in Financial Reporting 188 formulation of GAAPs assumes great importance in view of their far-reaching impact on the
quality of reported earnings.
10
Corporate Financial Practices 215
Concluding Remarks 217
Keywords 217
References 217
Exercises, Cases 218
Depreciation on Fixed Assets
Chapter 10 Depreciation on Fixed Assets 222
Introduction 223
Depreciation Accounting 223
Meaning and Significance of Depreciation 224
Research in Financial Reporting 224
Scope and Coverage 225
Principles and Norms of Standard Accounting
Treatment 225
Value of fixed assets keeps on reducing over their useful lives due to their use. This reduction,
Determinants of Depreciation 226 known as depreciation, is charged to profit and loss account. Depreciation has a significant
bearing on the measurement of financial performance and position.
11 Concluding Remarks
Keywords
References
244
244
244
Valuation of Assets under Finance
Exercises, Cases 245
Lease and Intangible Assets,
Amortization and Asset Impairment
Chapter 11 Valuation of Assets under Finance Lease and
Intangible Assets, Amortization and Asset Impairment 248
Introduction 249
Assets Under Finance Lease 249
Meaning of Lease and Finance Lease 249
Substance over Form 250
Principles and Norms of Standard Accounting
Treatment 250
The contemporary issues relating to fixed assets—finance lease, intangibles, their amortisation
and asset impairment—are providing a face-lift to the financial statements. The emphasis is on
substance over form, prudence, ensuring the sanctity of the financial statements and quality
Disclosures in Financial Statements 255
of earnings.
Corporate Financial Practices 256
Contents xv
Position Under the Income Tax Act 258
Intangible Assets and Their Amortisation 259
Goodwill 259
Meaning and Significance of Intangible Assets 259
Principles and Norms of Standard Accounting Treatment 262
Rates of Depreciation as Per Appendix I—Rule 5 of the Income Tax Rules 267
Disclosures in Financial Statements 267
Corporate Financial Practices 268
Impairment of Assets 270
Meaning and Significance 270
Principles and Norms of Standard Accounting Treatment 271
Disclosures in Financial Statements 274
Corporate Financial Practices 275
Concluding Remarks 277
Keywords 277
References 277
Exercises, Cases 278
12
Principles and Norms of Standard
Accounting Treatment 286
Valuation Policy 286
Cost of Inventories 286
Cost Formulas 289
Illustrations on the Methods of Valuation 291 Valuation of Inventories
FIFO 291
LIFO 293
WAC 293
Impact of the Three Methods of Valuation on COGs,
Gross Profit and Net Profit: A Comparison 294
Impact on COGS and Gross Profit 294
Impact on Net Profit 294
Techniques for the Measurement of Cost 295
Net Realisable Value 296
Inventories such as raw materials and finished goods in general, and in manufacturing compa-
NRV and ITS Impact on Valuation of Inventory, nies in particular, constitute the second largest item after fixed assets. Therefore, they require
a fair valuation so that the financial statements fairly portray the performance and financial
314
13
Active Market or Absence Thereof 314
Principles and Norms of Standard Accounting
Treatment 314 Valuation of Investments
Classification of Investments 314
Cost of Investments 315
Valuation/Carrying Amount of Investments in the
Balance Sheet 318
Reclassification of Investments 320
Determination of Cost of Investments in Cases of
Rights Issue 321
Disposal of Investments 323
Shares and Other Securities held as Stock-in-Trade 324 Investments in general, and in manufacturing companies in particular, represent deployment of
surplus funds to earn dividends, interest, rentals and capital appreciation for strategic reasons.
Disclosures in Financial Statements 324 Investments represent major assets and business activities for investment companies. Their
performance depends on the results of this activity.
Chapter 14 Corporate Financial Statements of Nestle India Ltd Along With Notes to Accounts and
Significant Accounting Policies 340
Introduction 341
Brief Profile of Nestle India Ltd. 342
Financial Statements of Nestle India Ltd. 343
Balance Sheet
Statement of Profit and Loss
Features of the Financial Statements
344
345
346
14
Corporate Financial Statements
Understanding the Inter-Linkage of the Financial Along With Notes to Accounts and
Statements 346 Significant Accounting Policies
Understanding the Various Accounts of Balance NESTLE INDIA LIMITED
Keywords 374
References 375
Exercises, Cases 375
Appendix 377
Employee Stock Option Plans 377
Report and Its Contents 405 such activities together with the mandatory social spend.
Impact of Other Income and Exceptional/ performance and financial position of the company than actuals to suit their motives. An analyst
needs to beat window dressing for a meaningful assessment of the quality of earnings.
After the Balance Sheet Date 493 and company valuation. EPS gets dilutive under certain circumstances. Dilutive EPS is the real
sustainable EPS.
Contents xxi
Per Share Information Other Than BEPS and DEPS 494
Disclosures in Financial Statements 494
Concluding Remarks 495
Keywords 495
References 495
Exercises, Cases 496
Chapter 19 Financial Statement Analysis and the Tool Kit of the Analyst: III Ratio Analysis 498
Introduction 499
Ratio Analysis 499
Classification of Ratios 500
Structure of Discussion of Ratios
Background Note on Innovative Approach
towards Deriving Various Ratios
500
501
19
Financial Statement Analysis and
Return on Investment (ROI) Ratios 504
the Tool Kit of the Analyst: III
ROI Ratios of Grasim Industries Ltd. 508
Ratio Analysis
Solvency Ratios 509
Solvency Ratios of Grasim Industries Ltd. 512 GRASIM INDUSTRIES LTD.
ROI RATIOS
Multi-step Profit Margin(s) to Net Revenue from D Wtd. Av. No. of Eq.
Shares O/S-Crores
9.17 9.17
Cash and Cash Equivalents and Accounting For the Year Ended 31st December, 2014
Nestlé
(` in millions) (` in millions)
Basis for Classification of Activities 555 A. CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net profit before tax
Adjustments for:
17,743.5 16,780.2
Investing Activities 556 Deficit/ (Surplus) on fixed assets sold/scrapped/written off (net)
Depreciation
Finance costs
74.5
3,375.4
142.3
(12.1)
3,299.5
365.1
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents 561 in annual reports, as illustrated here through the case of Nestlé India Ltd.
21
References 594
Exercises, Cases 595
Model for Strategic and Chapter 21 Model for Strategic and Integrated
Integrated Managerial Financial Managerial Financial Analysis of Annual Report 606
Analysis of Annual Report
Introduction 607
Objectives of Strategic and Integrated Analysis 607
Model Framework for Integrated Analysis 608
Detailed Model 608
Concluding Remarks 613
Keywords 613
References 613
Exercises 614
It is time now to begin a strategic and integrated managerial analysis of corporate financial
statements and financial reports forming part of an annual report. Keeping this in view a com-
prehensive model has been developed based on the annual report of Nestlé India Ltd.
Contents xxiii
PART 6: MORE ON FINANCIAL REPORTING AND ANALYSIS
Treatment 636
Analysis of Group Performance: Global Consolidation 636
Consolidated Financial Reporting The Process of Consolidation 637
Prime Bank Ltd.
Minority Interest as on 31-03-2007 655
Status of the Consolidated Financial Statements 657
(Holding Company)
Index 679
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OUTSTANDING
PEDAGOGICAL FEATURES
16
students’ understanding and knowledge enhancement. These
features are:
Quality of Earnings: Window
Dressing, Creative Financial Practices
1. Chapter Openers and Issues Related to Quality of
Every chapter opens with a pictorial/diagrammatic presenta- Disclosures in Reported Earnings
tion and a nugget description of what lies ahead in the chap-
ter. Openers will initiate and stimulate the students’ interest.
2. Chapter Objectives
An exhaustive list of chapter objectives provides details of the
issues whose knowledge and understanding the students are
expected to develop by the time they finish a particular chapter.
CHAPTER OBJECTIVES
Window dressing of financial statements is resorted to by the managements to portray a rosier
This chapter seeks to enable you to develop knowledge and understanding of: performance and financial position of the company than actuals to suit their motives. An analyst
needs to beat window dressing for a meaningful assessment of the quality of earnings.
1 The fact that modern accounting owes its origin to India.
2 The anatomy of business and its relationship with financial accounting.
3 The steps involved in the process of accounting, up to recording, that leads to the measurement of profit and
financial position.
4 How to do documentation of business transactions by way of vouchers.
5 How to do recording of vouchers in journal.
6 Application of certain fundamental accounting concepts in the process.
7 Basic features of partnership firm and their implications for financial accounting.
Thus enabling you to be able to complete the accounting cycle in the chapters that follow. BIRD’S EYE VIEW
The Anatomy of Business
Assets
3. Bird’s Eye View Box n
— Fixed assets
— Current assets
Regular bird’s eye view boxes, which provide a snapshot of the — Investments
subject matter covered, enable students to know the coverage n Liabilities
— Long term (non-current) liabilities
of a particular section and help them in quick revision. — Current liabilities
n Financial Position
n Income
n Expenses
n Financial Performance
xxviii outstanding PedagogiCal features
illustrated and analysed during the text throughout the book. EQUITY AND LIABILITIES
No.
barring one case, all others represent real life case studies of Non-current liabilities
6,041.07 4,910.22
cases seek to illustrate to the students analysis of complex Long-term provisions 7 111.85
414.84
124.54
481.84
9 Archives of Neurology and Electrology, for May, 1875, and Opera Minora, p. 180.
12 Brain, vol. v. p. 458, Jan., 1883; Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, vol. xi. p.
425, July, 1884.
During the last five years I have published a number of articles and
lectures on the subject of hysteria and hystero-epilepsy, some of
which have been freely used in the preparation of this and the
succeeding sections.13 My first paper on hystero-epilepsy, in the
American Journal of the Medical Sciences, was written to strongly
direct the attention of the American profession to the subject as
studied in France. It was in large part a translation from the works of
Charcot, Richer, and Bourneville, with, however, notes of some
observed cases.
13 “Hystero-epilepsy,” American Journal of the Medical Sciences, October, 1881.
“Illustrations of Local Hysteria,” Polyclinic, vol. i., Nos. 3 and 4, September 15,
October 15, 1883.
“A Case of Nymphomania, with Hystero-epilepsy, etc.,” Medical Times, vol. xv. p. 534,
April 18, 1885.
“Hystero-epilepsy in the Male, etc.,” Medical Times, vol. xv. p. 648, May 30, 1885.
“Some Forms of Myelitis, their Diagnosis from each Other and from Hysterical
Paraplegia,” Medical News, vol. xlvii., Nos. 7 and 8, August 15 and 22, 1885.
“Clinical Lecture on Acute Mania and Hysterical Mania,” Medical Times, vol. xvi. p.
153, November 28, 1885.
PATHOLOGY.—Strictly speaking, hysteria cannot be regarded as
having a morbid anatomy. In an often-quoted case of Charcot's,14 an
old hystero-epileptic woman, affected for ten years with hysterical
contracture of all the limbs, sclerosis of the lateral columns was
found after death. On several occasions this woman experienced
temporary remissions of the contracture, but after a last seizure it
became permanent. This is one of the few reported cases showing
organic lesion; and this was doubtless secondary or a complication.
In a typical case of hystero-epilepsy at the Philadelphia Hospital, a
report of which was made by Dr. J. Guiteras,15 the patient, a young
woman, died subsequently while in my wards. Autopsy and
microscopical examination revealed an irregularly diffused sclerosis,
chiefly occupying the parieto-occipital region of both cerebral
hemispheres. Undoubtedly, as suggested by Charcot, in some of the
grave forms of hysteria either the brain or spinal cord is the seat of
temporary modification, which in time may give place to permanent
material changes. Old cases of chronic hysteria in all probability may
develop a secondary degeneration of the cerebro-spinal nerve-
tracts, or even degeneration of the nerve-centres themselves may
possibly sometimes occur. Two cases now and for a long time under
observation further indicate the truth of this position. One, which has
been reported both by H. C. Wood16 and myself,17 is a case of
hysterical rhythmical chorea in a young woman. Although the
hysterical nature of her original trouble cannot be doubted, she now
has contractures of all the extremities, which seem to have an
organic basis. The other patient is a woman who has reached middle
life; she has several times temporarily recovered from what was
diagnosticated as hysterical paraplegia, in one instance the recovery
lasting for months. Now, after more than four years, she has not
recovered from her last relapse. Contractures, chiefly in the form of
flexure, have developed, and she has every appearance of organic
trouble, probably sclerosis or secondary degeneration of the lateral
columns.
14 Leçons sur les Maladies du Système nerveux.
After a time, the idea that the uterus was the exclusive seat of
hysteria was in large measure supplanted by the view that the sexual
organs in general were concerned in the production of hysterical
phenomena. Romberg defined hysteria as a “reflex neurosis caused
by genital irritation.” Woodbury20 concludes as late as 1876 that only
where the pathological source of hysterical symptoms resides in the
uterus or ovaries, cases may, with some show of propriety, be
termed hysterical; and where the uterus and organs associated with
it in function are not in a morbid condition no symptoms can be
correctly called hysterical.
20 Medical and Surgical Reporter, December 2, 1876.
The truth would seem simply to be, that, as the uterus and ovaries
are the most important female organs, they are therefore a frequent
source of reflex irritation in hysterical patients.
Two hypotheses, the vaso-motor and the dynamic, chiefly hold sway.
The vaso-motor, attractive because of its apparent simplicity, has
been well set forth by Walton,24 who contends that while it may not
be competent to easily explain all hysterical symptoms, it will best
explain some of the major manifestations of hysteria—for example,
hemianæsthesia. Hemianæsthesia, he argues, may appear and
disappear suddenly; it may be transferred from one side of the body
to another in a few seconds; so blood-vessels can dilate as in a
blush, or contract as in the pallor of fear, in an instant. In fainting the
higher cerebral functions are suspended, presumably because of
vaso-motor changes; therefore the sudden loss of function of one-
half of the brain-centres, seen sometimes in hysterical hemiplegia
and hemianæsthesia, may easily be imagined to be the result of an
instantaneous and more or less complete contraction of cortical
blood-vessels on that side. Neurotic patients have a peculiarly
irritable vaso-motor nervous system. He records a case seen in
consultation with H. W. Bradford. The patient had a right-sided
hemianæsthesia, including the special senses, the sight in the left
eye being almost wanting. The fundus of the right eye was normal;
the left showed an extreme contractility of the retinal blood-vessels
under ophthalmoscopic examination; these contracted to one-third
their calibre, and the patient was unable to have the examination
continued. The explanation offered is, that spasm of the blood-
vessels on the surface of the left cerebral hemisphere had caused,
by modification of the cortical cells, a right-sided hemianæsthesia,
including the sight, and by reaching the meninges a left-sided spastic
migraine, and by extending to the fundus of the left eye an
intermittent retinal ischæmia.
24 Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, vol. xi., July, 1884, p. 424 et seq.
Lloyd28 contends that most hysterical symptoms, if not all, are due to
abnormal states of consciousness. The development of this idea
constitutes his argument for the recognition of the disease as a true
psychosis. In the reflex action, not only of the lower spinal cord and
ganglia of special sensation, but of the highest centres of the brain,
he sees the explanation of many of the characteristics of hysteria. In
other words, he finds that the sphere of the disease is more
especially in the automatic action of the brain and cord.
28 Op. cit.
(4) The psychical element enters in that, either, on the one hand,
violent mental stimuli which originate in the cerebral hemispheres
are transmitted to vaso-motor conductors,30 or, on the other hand,
psychical passivity or torpor permits the undue activity of the lower
nervous levels.
30 Rosenthal.
Briquet has also made some careful investigations into the subject of
the health of infants born of hysterical mothers. The investigations
were based upon a study of 240 hysterical women, with whom he
compared 240 other patients affected with such diseases as fever,
phthisis, cancer, diseases of the heart, liver, and kidneys, but without
any hysterical symptoms. In brief, the result of his investigations was
that children born of hysterical mothers die more frequently and at a
younger age than those who are born of mothers not hysterical.
The relation of hysteria to certain morbid constitutional states has
long been recognized, particularly its connection with the tubercular
diathesis. This has been shown by numerous observers, especially
among the French. The most valuable recent contribution is that of
Grasset,33 who believes that a direct connection can be traced
between the tubercular diathesis and hysteria. When the relations of
hysteria to the scrofulous and tubercular diathesis are spoken of by
him, it is not meant that hysterical subjects have tubercles in the
lungs, but that these diatheses are found in various generations, and
that among some subjects of the hereditary series the constitutional
states manifest themselves as hysteria. It is not the evidences of
hysteria with pulmonary and other tuberculous conditions that he is
considering, but that hysteria may be, and often is, a manifestation of
the tubercular diathesis. Two cases may present themselves: in one
the neurosis is the only manifestation of the diathesis; in the other, it
is continued in the same subject along with the other diathetic
manifestations. In demonstration of his thesis he concludes with a
series of most interesting cases, which he arranges into two groups.
In the first, hysteria is the only manifestation of the tubercular
diathesis; in the second, are simultaneous pulmonary and hysterical
manifestations. In the first group he has arrayed eight personal
observations and seventeen derived from various authors; in the
second he has two personal and seventeen compiled observations.
33 “The Relation of Hysteria with the Scrofulous and the Tubercular Diathesis,” by J.
Grasset, Brain, Jan., April, and July, 1884.
Hysteria may occur in any rank of life. It is not, as has been held by
some, a disease of the luxurious classes. The American physician
who has seen much of this disorder—and that means every
physician of large practice—has met with hysterical cases in every
walk of life. While this is true, however, hysteria of certain types is
met with more frequently in certain social positions. Some of the
remarks about race and climate apply also here. It is the type of the
disorder, and its relative frequency among various classes, which are
affected by social position. Young women of the richer classes, who
have been coddled and pampered, whose wants and whose whims
have been served without stint or opposition, often pass into
hysterical conditions which do not have any special determining
causative factor, or at least only such as are comparatively trivial.
Occasionally, in them hystero-epilepsy, catalepsy, and the train of
grave hysterical phenomena are observed. We are more likely,
however, to have the minor and indefinite hysterical symptoms; or, if
grave manifestations be present, they are most usually ataxia,
paralysis, contractures, or aphonia, and not convulsive phenomena.
Hysteria in our American cities is especially prevalent among certain
classes of working-people, as among the operatives in
manufacturing establishments. Dividing American society into the
three classes of rich, middle, and poor, hysteria is most prevalent in
the first and the last. It is, however, by no means absent in the
middle class.
The absence of occupation on the one hand, and, on the other, the
necessity of following work for which the individual is unfitted,
particularly irritating lines of work, predispose to the occurrence of
hysteria. It may be caused, therefore, either by no work, overwork, or
irritating work. As to the special occupations, hysteria would seem to
result most commonly in those positions where physical fatigue
combines with undue mental irritation to harass and reduce the
nervous system. In men it occurs often as the result of overwork
conjoined with financial embarrassment. It is met with not
infrequently among teachers, particularly those who are engaged in
the straining and overstraining labor of preparing children for
examinations. A good method of education is the best preventive; a
bad method is one of the most fruitful causes of the affection. The
injurious effect of American school or college life in the production of
hysteria is undoubted, and should be thoroughly appreciated. Our
educational processes act both as predisposing and exciting causes
of this disorder. Both in our private and public educational institutions
the conditions are frequently such as to lead to the production of
hysteria or to confirm and intensify the hysterical temperament. In
our large cities all physicians in considerable practice are called
upon to treat hysterical girls and boys, the former more frequently,
but the latter oftener than is commonly supposed. Hysteria in boys,
indeed, does not always meet with recognition, from the fact that it is
in boys. Cases of hysteria in girls under twelve years of age have
come under my observation somewhat frequently. About or just
succeeding examination-time these cases are largely multiplied. The
hysteria under such circumstances may assume almost any phase;
usually, however, we have not to deal in such patients with
convulsive types of the disease.