Paul Kern

Paul Kern
Died	1955 Budapest
Nationality	Hungarian
Occupation	Soldier

Paul Kern (died 1955) was a Hungarian soldier who was shot in the head by a Russian soldier in 1915 during World War I.^[1] The bullet removed part of his frontal lobe. Rather than killing him, this made him unable to sleep.^[2]

Biography

At the outbreak of World War I, Kern volunteered as a cadet in the Hungarian army. He was placed in command of a company of shock troops. While with this company, he was awarded a medal for bravery. A year later, he was transferred to another company where he was rewarded for his defense of an important sector despite the rest of his company being shot down.

After being shot in the head by a Russian soldier and losing part of his frontal lobe, he was taken to Lemberg Hospital. After waking up at Lemberg, he never slept again.^[3] Ernst Frey, professor of mental and nervous diseases at the Eötvös Loránd University, treated Kern but was unable to find a cause for this abnormality.^[4]

After having been injured and leaving the army, Kern moved to Budapest. While there, he worked daily in the Pensions Department.^[5]

Kern is said to have lived for another 40 years after his injury.

References

1. "Sleepless for 15 years. Curious effect of war-wound". The West Australian. 14 January 1930. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
2. "Sleepless man still a puzzle". The Milwaukee Sentinel. 25 September 1938. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
3. "Doctor Baffled. Man who never sleeps. Going 24 hours". Chronicle. 16 January 1930. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
4. "No sleep for 15 years. Night club life. Astonishing case of a wounded officer". The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser. 14 February 1930. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
5. "Adelaide doctor thinks man could go without sleep for 15 years". The Register News-Pictorial. 15 January 1930. Retrieved 3 September 2013.