| Description Of Item | Patient case histories, from an unknown asylum. Manuscript notes, probably made by Thomas Laycock, compiled after 1864. Describes each patient’s history, appearance, and mental state.
Cases relating to ‘Drinking followed by Insanity’:
First case relates to Robert Duncan, age 47, a soldier and a native of Cupar, Fife. He had previously been placed in Morningside Asylum [Royal Edinburgh Hospital] before being ‘transferred here’. He was of intemperate habits and ‘became insane’. He was ‘strongly made’ but ‘somewhat anemic’. He suffered from ‘delusions of the exalted type’, and he liked ‘sketching on flagstones’ with bits of coal or brick.
Second case relates to [Thomas] Fleming, age 74, a hawker. He was always a heavy drinker, and ‘seems a hale old man’. His mental state was described as ‘excitable, noisy, delusive, discontented’, violent, and suspicious.
Third case relates to Jessie Robertson, age 51, a servant. She was admitted in December 1864 and had been ‘very intemperate’ before ‘drunkenness prolonged itself into the present state of mental excitement’. She is described as pale, weak, and emaciated. She suffered from delusions of people murdering her family. Line scored out: ‘Eleanor Pillans, aged 28, servant.’
Fourth case relates to Isabella Pringle, age 55, a washerwoman. She was addicted to drinking and had once been admitted in Morningside [Asylum]. She is described as healthy in appearance. She suffered from delusions but ‘is now recovered and almost quite well’.
Cases related to ‘masturbators’:
First case relates to Robert Beveridge, age 34, a pauper. He had been admitted to this asylum once before and had been discharged ‘recovered’, but he was readmitted in August 1862. He led an erratic life, often in the poorhouse, or in jail, or wandering. Formerly he was irritable and quarrelsome but seems to be recovering.
Second case relates to John Ramsay, age 35, a shoemaker. He was transferred from Lilybank Asylum, he seemed excited but healthy. He was incoherent, ‘silent and silly’, and threatening violence, but now ‘he is a little improved’, he converses, laughs, and sings but is more coherent.
Third case relates to David Grant, age 40, a soldier. The ‘alleged cause of insanity’ was his brother’s suicide. He is described as over 6 feet in height, strong and stalwart. His mental state is described as ‘silly and somewhat incoherent’, and ‘his habits are very filthy.’
Fourth case relates to [Miss Margaret?] MacBay, age 42, a housekeeper. No cause of insanity was found. She was ‘tall, well-made but emaciated’ and very anxious, suffering from delusions and was self-abusive.
Fifth case relates to Eleanor Pillans, age 28, a servant. She was admitted on 25 June 1863. Her father ‘was of intemperate habits’, he committed suicide after being interned at Gartnavel Asylum. Her brother was also in an asylum. She is described as ‘pale and anemic’ and having an ovarian tumour, she complained of headaches and was ‘very excitable, the excitement being erotic’.
From the collection of Thomas Laycock. |