Tenth annual report of the directors and physician of James Murray's Royal Asylum for Lunatics. 1837.

  • James Murray's Royal Asylum for Lunatics
Date:
1837
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Tenth annual report of the directors and physician of James Murray's Royal Asylum for Lunatics. 1837. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    deavouring to open it with his fingers. At length, after many efforts, he contrives to get it open; he then eats rapidly, for fear, as he says, it should close up again. His children called lately to see him. He at once recognised them, but said they had grown much less than when he saw them last. He also imagines that other people change their countenances, and thinks they are different individuals altogether. When fancies like these get firmly fixed, the patient rarely or never recovers. There is another man who fancies he is going to die. He thinks the Superintendent has power of life and death. Hardly a day passes but the patient ad¬ dresses him with a most rueful countenance, and says, 46 Master, am I to live a little longer ?” Upon being assured he will, he becomes quite cheerful during that day, but, if any thing happens to prevent him asking the following day, he becomes exceedingly sour and melancholy. It is the same as regards his sleep. Un¬ less he asks the Superintendent if he will allow him to have some sleep, he is sure to pass a very bad night. The Directors and Physician might particularize