Rowland Rowlands (4190)

Admission Details for Patient: Rowland Rowlands (4190)

Gender: Male Age: 78
Marital Status: Widowed Religion: Indpendent
Occupation: SShip's carpenter
Address: Barmouth, Merioneth

Date of Admission: May 22, 1890
Date of Death: July 16, 1895
Cause of Death: Morbus cordis/syncope

Disease: Senile dementia
Supposed Cause: Heredity

Medical Certificate:
He appeared in an unbecoming state, having put on a neighbour's pair of trousers, which did not fit and when asked why he had not got a proper fitting one, he said he could not find his own, and he says he is kept by the Local Board at Barmouth, which is an hallucination as he is in receipt of Parochial relief. His daughter, Catherine Roberts, says he is afflicted with masturbation; and a day or two ago he threw a wineglass at her head. She also states that he rambles about into neighbours' houses, and takes things away; at other times they cannot find him and that she is afraid something may happen to him, as he is totally unfit to look after himself. May 21st 1890. Hugh James Lloyd, LRCP etc., Barmouth.

Approximate duration of present attack: 2 months

Number of Previous Attacks: 1

Number of Previous Admissions: 1

Number of Subsequent Admissions: 0

Total Number of Admissions: 2

Relatives affected:

Number of Previous Attacks: 1

Epileptic: No

Suicidal: No

Dangerous: No

Clean Habit: -

Food Refusal: -

Sleep Habit: -

Destructive Habit: -

Disposition: -

Education: -

Physical/Mental State at Examination: Health good. Patient was discharged from this Asylum upon the 26th Feb last after a stay of 2 months. Became troublesome shortly after discharge and has steadily become worse. Wanders about and does not know when he gets into danger. He will walk unconsciously onto the Railway etc. Did not know where he was on admission here.

Current Diagnosis: Unspecified Dementia (F03.0)

Case Notes

1890 May 26 - The mental symptoms of this case show a more pronounced and definite state of advancing dementia associated with numerous indications of confusion of the general intelligence than when he was admitted upon the last occasion.

He is incapable of realising the fact that he is to be detained and is under the impression that he is staying only for a few days. He also believes that he is in receipt of a substantial pension from the Local Bd of Health and that he has no further occasion to work for his living. He is childish and simple in conduct and in spite of his expressed desire to leave he nevertheless makes himself perfectly at home and causes no trouble.

June 10 - Is much the same as when admitted. Quiet and apathetic in conduct, and apparently quite contented with his mode of existence. (Notes to 1891 indicate no change).

1891 Jan 3 - A very well conducted old man, shows here but little trace of Insanity. In good health. Apr 15 - Anxious to get home to his work which he thinks is still open to him and which he is capable of. Very quiet and inoffensive and to a casual observer his conversation is sensible enough. Clean and tidy. Health excellent.

(Dates of subsequent notes obscured by Death Certificate). - Should do very well in a Workhouse and he is anxious to get out to one. A very harmless and well conducted old man.

1895 Apr 10 - No change.

July 10 - Since last entry has been in bed with diseased heart. Weak and irregular pulse and has a slight tinge of jaundice in his conjunctivae.

Treated with Digitalis and Amm. Carb. and 4 oz of Whiskey every 24 hours. Is wet and dirty and is very confused.

July 16 - This patient was seen by the writer in the morning and was in his usual condition. A little after the Superintendent saw him fainting and he died straight off in spite of all treatment.

July 19 - At the Post Mortem, this patient was seen to be suffering from the most extensive malignant disease of the liver, without showing any sign or symptom of it except the slightest amount of jaundice which was put down to his heart condition.

Died July 16th 1895.

Medications/Treatments: Digitalis. Amm. Carb. Whiskey.

Additional Notes

Previous admission:

Rowland Rowlands was first admitted on 20th November 1889 (no. 4122).

Medical Certificate reads: His conversation is is incoherent. He suffers from delusions. He says that he has refused £100,000 for a mine. He is violent and breaks the locks of the Workhouse. Believes that he sees persons in the Railway etc.

Other facts indicating Insanity communicated to me by the Master of the Workhouse: That he talks incoherently, and is violent at times. He hides the poker under his bed clothes and has broken several

of the locks of the doors of the Workhouse. Edward Jones, MD St Andrews Univ. and MRCS Eng. Dolgelley.

Diagnosed with Senile Dementia, he was discharged recovered on 26th February 1890.