The case books record many sad and tragic stories but the most heartbreaking are the entries for children. Although they made up a small percentage of patients, it is important to remember that children were admitted and were often there for many years. Some were discharged but sadly, some died in the asylum.
Entries in the case books often label young children as idiots and class them as dangerous to others. Many suffered from epilepsy and had severe fits so were placed in the asylum as parents were unable to look after them. The patients below were extracted from the male case books. Female admissions will feature in a future blog.
| Patient 1 Age 9 This child was admitted on 13 February 1893 as a result of epilepsy. He is classed as dangerous to others due to a habit of biting and scratching. He has a wild and vacant stare and is constantly rolling his head and eyes. He is unable to articulate words, shouts for no apparent reason and laughs in an idiotic fashion. His mother states he has taken fits since he was three years old. He constantly tried to bite and scratch other children in his household and would often put faeces in his mouth and try to eat scrap metal and paint. When his mother was pregnant, she received a shock and she believes this resulted in her child becoming mentally unstable. Ward doctors note that this boy labours under idiocy and has almost no intelligence. On 14 February 1893, he was on an observation ward but on 23 February he is transferred to the female ward. It is noted that he is a big favourite with the women and is a great pet. By 6 March, he is having frequent fits and not sleeping well. He is regularly given Chloral to keep him quiet. By August he is classed as a chronic case and is having to be looked after like a baby. Although his condition does not improve, this boy was discharged on 17 December 1894. |
| Patient 2 Age 14 This boy entered the asylum on 12 February 1893. His behaviour at home has become increasingly worrying and there are fears for the safety of the family. He set fire to clothing in a wardrobe, hit his brother and threatened his mother with a knife. After speaking to his mother, the ward doctor discovered that the boys destructive and violent behaviour started a week ago and concludes it is probably due to shock after the recent death of his father. Once on the ward, staff struggle to keep the boy in bed. He constantly mutters and talks incoherently. He is always running about, shouting and making a great noise. He likes to sing loudly and laugh to himself. He is quite incapable of rational conversation. On the 8 March 1893, it is noted that he cut his wrist after putting his arm through a window. By 13 June 1894, his notes state that he labours under chronic mania with occasional stupor. By the next month he has stopped eating and lies quietly in bed. He shuts his teeth tight so food can’t be slotted through them. This young boy sadly died on 16 July 1894. The cause of death is noted as General Paralysis. |
| Patient 3 Age 9 This young boy was admitted on 7 October 1915. He is classed as an idiot with epilepsy who is restless and screams. He is unable to talk and doesn’t seem to understand what is said to him. He father states that he is dangerous as he takes severe fits and needs to be tied to a chair to stop him from injuring his little brother. On admission, the doctor notes that the boy labours under idiocy with epilepsy and has no intelligence. He is unable to understand the simplest question and wets and soils himself. He is also unable able to feed himself. This boy was only in the asylum for eight days and was discharged on 15 October 1915. His notes read discharged but not improved. |
| Patient 4 Aged 8 This young boy entered the asylum on 23 November 1896. The case book states that this congenital idiot with epilepsy is filthy in his habits and violent in his conduct. He is quite incapable of taking care of himself. Before entry to the asylum, he would often break furniture and injure other family members. After admission, it is discovered that the boy loves music and enjoys being in the ballroom on occasions when dances are held. He constantly hops about waving his arms. He brightens up as soon as the music begins. His notes show that since admission in 1896, he has never had any fits but on 14 October 1898, he had his first attack in the asylum. These fits continue and in October 1901, doctors note that this imbecile shows no mental improvement. By 1905 the fits are more frequent resulting in the sad death of the boy on 11 August 1905 [aged 15]. An attendant responsible for the care of the young boy, provided a witness statement as a post mortem was requested. The attendant stated that the patient had a fit around 6.45pm on 10 August 1905 and fell forward onto the arm of a sofa. After the attack was over the boy seemed to have no pain so was put to bed. About 8.55pm he had another severe fit and the Medical Officer was summoned as the boy became unconscious. He remained this way until he passed away at 4am. The Assistant Medical Officer stated he was satisfied that there had been no violence towards the child from either attendants or patients. He believed the force of the fall had resulted in a rupture to the stomach owing to distension after the evening meal. A post mortem found a rupture on the stomach on the anterior surface, three inches in length. The saddest part of the report reveals that the doctor believed that the boy did not indicate he was in any pain due to his feeble minded condition. |
