| Description Of Item | Illustration from the collection of Alexander Morison. Plate 68 of Morison’s 'The Physiognomy of Mental Diseases' (1840). Unsigned [Alexander Johnston].
'Portrait of S. S.; an unmarried female; aged 27.
This person had been an attendant upon an insane lady; her disorder commenced during that attendance. The first symptoms observed were incoherence of discourse and of actions; this was succeeded by a state of stupidity and of silence ; she would sit all day with her hands upon her knees, her head bent forward, and her mouth open; she made no reply when spoken to, and did not appear to comprehend what was said to her. She had been about six months in this state when her portrait was taken.' |