Lewis Hughes (2503)

Admission Details for Patient: Lewis Hughes (2503)

Gender: Male Age: 18
Marital Status: Single Religion: Church of England
Occupation: Cordwainer
Address: Gelligaer (admitted from workhouse), South Wales

Date of Admission: October 19, 1875
Date of Discharge: January 24, 1876
Discharge Category: Recovered

Disease: Acute mania
Supposed Cause: Heredity

Medical Certificate:
Transfer from Bridgend Asylum to Carnarvon Union. Certificate on admission to Bridgend dated 18th April 1875 reads: Has a very unpleasant wild look about the eyes at times and at others looks very dull. Will remain silent for a long time and is with great difficulty got to answer questions. Said there was a pain in one of his wrists but did not know which. The porter and attendants: Calls for a knife to cut his throat, can't be kept in bed, swears and says there are men in the passage. Will not talk for hours at a time, counts his fingers, stares at the men. Cornelius Diddle.

Approximate duration of present attack: 15 days

Number of Previous Attacks: 0

Number of Previous Admissions: 0

Number of Subsequent Admissions: 2

Total Number of Admissions: 3

Relatives affected: Mother was in the Asylum

Epileptic: Yes

Suicidal: Yes

Dangerous: Doubtful

Clean Habit:

Food Refusal:

Sleep Habit:

Destructive Habit:

Disposition:

Education:

Physical/Mental State at Examination: Talks rationally, is a little weak minded.

Current Diagnosis: Schizophrenia (F20.0)

Case Notes

1875 Oct 30 - Has been at work since the first day after admission in the shoe shop. Dec 16 - Continues to behave himself admirably.

1876 Jan 24 - Has continued improving and without relapse since last note.

Medications/Treatments:

Additional Notes

Readmissions:

15th June 1877 (no. 2676).

Admitted under a warrant from the Home Secretary transferring him to the asylum from Carnarvon Gaol where he was serving 2 months hard labour for deserting from the militia.

The supposed cause for his insanity on this occasion is given as intemperance.

He escaped from the asylum on 30th March 1880 and, not being recaptured, was discharged ‘relieved’.

20th November 1884 (no. 3546). Diagnosed with Mania on admission, the cause again intemperance, he remained in the asylum until his death from Acute Enteritis on 14th February 1910.

He is described in 1884 as having always led a roving and purposeless life, tramping from one town to the other and picking up a few odd jobs here and there. Has always been considered an intemperate man.

He had remained sober for a short while, working for his uncle, a shoemaker, in Deiniolen but was certified when he became became violent and excited once again.