Margaret Roberts (2451)

Admission Details for Patient: Margaret Roberts (2451)

Gender: Female Age: 69
Marital Status: Widowed Religion: Wesleyan Methodist
Occupation: Lodging House keeper
Address: Llanrwst, Carnarvonshire

Date of Admission: May 14, 1875
Date of Death: July 17, 1876
Cause of Death: Senile decay/Pleurisy

Disease: Chronic mania
Supposed Cause: Domestic anxiety

Medical Certificate:
Says that there is fire in the house and that it is beset with insects. States that they constantly try to poison her. By Mary Roberts her daughter: Will not take food unless it is forced upon her and expresses herself that the police are going to apprehend her for debt. States that everything brought to her by her daughter that she steals it. W. E Hughes MRCS Eng. LSA

Approximate duration of present attack: About 6 weeks

Number of Previous Attacks: 0

Number of Previous Admissions: 0

Number of Subsequent Admissions: 0

Total Number of Admissions: 1

Relatives affected: Uncle has had epilepsy and probably mania

Epileptic: No

Suicidal: Doubtful

Dangerous: No

Clean Habit: Very clean

Food Refusal: Yes

Sleep Habit: Badly

Destructive Habit: Not in any manner

Disposition: Sober industrious and kind and scrupulously honest

Education: Bad

Physical/Mental State at Examination: Bodily condition on admission feeble. Emaciated. Tongue somewhat furred. Bowels open. Refuses her food. Circulatory system, pulse frequent, impulse strong. Breathing somewhat loud, slight bronchophony. Was calm and quiet on admission. Very taciturn requiring a good deal of persuasion before talking. Could not elicit any of the above delusions from her. Pupils are equal and of medium size. Her son a collier in South Wales, a married man, has got into difficulties during the present strike and she has been obliged to help him. This appears to have preyed upon her mind and, as she was not very well off, she was very much afraid of getting into debt.

Current Diagnosis: Organic Mood Disorder (F06.3)

Case Notes

1875 May 15 - Was quiet enough during the night although she says she did not sleep.

Night attendant said she slept. Obliged to be fed. Eats arrowroot and beef tea. Taciturn but quiet.

May 16 - Appears to know where she is. Today she said that poison was being put into her food. Aug 12 - Sometimes excited and difficult to manage, continually trying to undress, requiring screws in her dress.

Completely incoherent and noisy at night.

1876 May - Has been in bed the last few days and suffering from bronchitis but is now better.

June 30 - Frequently remains in bed and refuses her food. Is in feeble health.

July 9 - She became very ill, some amount of pleurisy taking place and unable to take but little food.

Medications/Treatments: Sleeping draughts 'Screws' in dress to prevent undressing