| Description Of Item | Illustration from the collection of Alexander Morison. Plate 51 of Morison’s 'The Physiognomy of Mental Diseases' (1840). Signed A J [Alexander Johnston].
'Portrait of L. D. aged 47.
This female bore an excellent character before she became insane; during her insanity she destroyed her child, and attempted to destroy herself, and still continues to have the same propensity — she swears much, and is very noisy during the night; upon being questioned as to her motives for her violent conduct, she says, “I don't know what I do, nor why I do it”. Very lately she took the steel from a pair of stays and mangled her throat with it; the strictest watching is necessary, to prevent the effects of her suicidal propensity.' |