Sixteenth annual report of the Suffolk Lunatic Asylum : December, 1853.

  • Suffolk Lunatic Asylum.
Date:
1854
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Sixteenth annual report of the Suffolk Lunatic Asylum : December, 1853. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    well. He continued at home quietly and comfortably with his family till about a fortnight previous to his re-admission which took place on the 10th. of June, 1853. He came back suffering extremely from a return of all his previous symptoms: there was a cadaverous look, and a most distressing anxiety about his countenance, and altogether he presented an ap¬ pearance of the most abject wretchedness and misery. He had just before his admission twice attempted self-destruction, once by strangulation, and the second time by drowning. On the afternoon of the 15th. the House Surgeon was suddenly called to him by his attendant, and he found him suffering from symptoms evidently arising from the existence of some foreign body in the throat, nothing either solid or fluid could be swal¬ lowed, there was a choking sensation with sudden spasmodic cough. A probang with an ivory top was introduced into the sesophagus, which rested half-way between the lower part of the pharynx and the cardiac orifice of the stomach upon something hard. By careful manipulation this substance was pushed down into the stomach, and now several hard bodies con¬ veying the sensation of stones could be distinctly felt with the probang. Upon questioning the man he acknowledged that he had swallowed 200 common gravel stones, with the hope that they would kill him, at the same time he expressed great thankfulness for the relief afforded him and promised never to attempt self-destruction again. By repeated doses of castor oil, a great number of stones were brought away, and all were supposed to have passed safely through. At the end of six days however he sent for the House Surgeon again, saying that there was a large stone at the lower end of the bowel, and he could not pass it. On the introduction of the finger, several stones with sharp jagged edges could be distinctly felt impacted in foecal matter, and the mass appeared to be so large that it seemed impassible without laceration. Whilst an enema was being prepared for him, he suddenly passed a large mass, 8§ inches in circumference, and containing seventy-two