Elizabeth Jane Meggeson: A Life in a Case Book

Northumberland Archives hold male & female patient case books for St. George’s Hospital. Beginning in 1890, these volumes can provide researchers with a wealth of information about their ancestors. This blog looks at the first entry in the female case book and charts the progress of this lady throughout the years. Some patients were in the asylum for short periods of time or were repeated admissions. Sadly, some patients were admitted and spent the rest of their life in the institution. Elizabeth Jane Meggeson falls into the latter category.

Elizabeth starts out in the case books but once it is established that she will probably never be released, her patient notes are transferred to the Chronic Case Books. Due to the length of her stay, not every entry in the books could be included in this blog. However, as the years went on there were larger gaps between entries or short comments such as “no change” so not as much information was recorded.  

 

Name – Elizabeth Jane Meggeson Age – 35  Admitted -12 July 1890  Diagnosis – Disappointment in Marriage

Case Book  12 July 1890  She talks incoherently and imagines people come into the house from underground and annoy her, pull her hair back and speak into her ears. She thinks that she has an electric machine at the ends of her fingers. She says that men follow her and “draw her eyes together.” Churchwardens follow her yet she never sees them. She said that she saw her sister and sister-in-law sitting in the ward but that was untrue.  She is violent at times and often noisy and sleepless at nights. She uses obscene language. She is a single woman and has been affected mentally for the past ten years about which time it is said that she had a disappointment in marriage which is said to have been the turning point. She was never bad to deal with until about two years ago and since then she has become changed and is quiet and has threatened suicide.

24 February 1891  Much better. Industrious and cheerful and she often plays the piano in the ward. No delusions and her health is good.

16 June 1891  She is full of delusion she said that she saw the ghost of a little man standing at the foot of her bed last night.

18 February 1892  She is unchanged in every respect but not so excitable as before. Making herself very useful at dormitory work.

12 October 1893  Recently the patient has taken to applying such rigorous friction to her face and neck that the skin on these parts and on her ears is in a state of acute eczema. The nurse thinks that she rubs her face with her urine.

Chronic Case Books  15 June 1897  She labours under Delusional Insanity. She states that some kind of machine is put on her which pushes the top of her head. This machine is constantly talking and answering itself. She believes that one of the female patients is married to another female patient. She has many hallucinations of sight and hearing.

13 December 1897  This patient has been having [Trional?] daily for a fortnight. She is up & quieter than she was before the administration of the drug.

12 February 1898  She has been worse again lately. Restless, excitable and crying. She has disturbed nights. Today, she has again been put upon [Trional?]

26 January 1899  She continues to talk to people under the floor.

10 January 1901  No mental improvement to note. Patient scolds a great deal. She hears voices speaking to her day and night. The voices come through the telephone, and they call her bad names. She does a little sewing but is inclined to be lazy.

13 June 1902  She labours under Delusional Insanity. She states that an evil spirit lives in Cottingwood. This spirit speaks through her and causes her to use bad language and when she moves her head, she forgets everything. Her bodily health is good and she is well nourished.

6 April 1903  There is no change mental or physical in this chronic maniac. She sits in Ward 1 and sews. Has a good appetite. Is in fair general condition. Sleeps well. Weight is 122lbs.

8 April 1905  This patient works in the dormitories and sews. She talks to herself a great deal. She uses two different tones of voice and appears to be conversing with some imaginary person. She mistakes the identity of those around her.

15 June 1906  This patient has hallucinations of hearing. She frequently shouts abuse with a very rapid utterance to invisible people. Bodily health good. She works in the laundry.

20 April 1907  Patient labours under Delusional insanity. She states that the shadow of a man comes into the room at night. He is called Dr McGregor. She talks to herself and calls herself a bad girl.

11 June 1912  She labours under Delusional Insanity. She states that she hears night and day, voices of men who live at Rothbury. She also says that these men attempt to ‘get into’ her here at night.

18 October 1914  Patient is idle and lazy and has taken to lying about on the couch all day. Health is good. Habits and dress clean. She is noisy in the dining hall at meals.

21 July 1916 Physically she remains well. She has periods of great talkativeness when she argues fiercely with imaginary people; but lately these periods have been rare. As a rule, she is a quiet, pleasant, well behaved old lady who does a little needlework for the ward.

12 June 1917  She is constantly talking to invisible people. She states that a woman and two men are constantly taking to her from the ceiling.

10 May 1918  Is losing weight a little but is well otherwise. She has been much quieter lately, often sits and converses pleasantly. Smiling to herself.

30 September 1920  Sits in ward muttering incoherently to herself. Is failing somewhat.

7 January 1922  Patients condition is very serious her heart is greatly enlarged. Both mitral and aortic valves are incompetence. Heart action is feeble and irregular.

15 January 1922  Death Statement: Elizabeth Jane Meggeson – admission 12 July 1890.  Age 66 – died 15 January 1922.  Cardiovascular Disease – many years  No PM [Post Mortem] – no unusual circumstances.  No injuries  No restraints