Margaretta Thomas (4226)

Admission Details for Patient: Margaretta Thomas (4226)

Gender: Female Age: 26
Marital Status: Single Religion: Calvinist Methodist
Occupation: Domestic servant
Address: Oxford and Cambridge Club, London

Date of Admission: September 6, 1890
Date of Discharge: April 28, 1891
Discharge Category: Relieved

Disease: Melancholia
Supposed Cause: Disappointment in love etc.

Medical Certificate:
1. The characteristic expression of the face, inability to sustain any prolonged conversation, sudden outburst of temper, her declaring that her mother attempted to poison her. 2. Benjamin and Margaret Thomas, her father and mother, say that she is constantly harping concerning some love affair and religious subjects. She reads too much. She makes frequent attempts to escape through bedroom windows and often requires restraint. Sept 5th 1890. Signed John Thomas Jones, Corris, RSO.

Approximate duration of present attack: 2 weeks

Number of Previous Attacks: 0

Number of Previous Admissions: 0

Number of Subsequent Admissions: 0

Total Number of Admissions: 1

Relatives affected: Uncle and aunt have both been deranged but have not required asylum treatment

Epileptic: No

Suicidal: No

Dangerous: Partly so, when interfered with

Clean Habit:

Food Refusal:

Sleep Habit:

Destructive Habit:

Disposition: A steady and industrious girl

Education: Reads and writes

Physical/Mental State at Examination: Health good. There appears to be a taint of insanity existing in the patient's family antecedents. The present attack commenced about a fortnight ago while the patient was engaged in service in London where she had been for 3 years, and is supposed to be due to some love disappointment. Was sent home a week ago to her parents in Corris. Has been restless and wandering in her disposition, escaping from the house and bedroom and incapable of employing herself in a rational manner.

Current Diagnosis: Schizoaffective Disorder (F25)

Case Notes

1890 Sept 9 - Patient is a good looking girl. Dark complexion, eyes and hair. Well built and healthy in every way.

She is in rather a depressed state of mind and unable to settle down quietly to anything.

Is also very restless at night, getting out of bed and frequently in tears.

She is unable to give a clear and lucid account of her life in London but it wd seem that she is a girl whom any slight worry or disappointment wd overcome. She does not know where she is and cannot say what she is doing here. She has no obvious delusions.

20 - A troublesome girl. Restless and idle. She is silly in behaviour and often crying in a maudlin way and cannot assign a reason.

Restless at night and often has to be fed.

Oct 25 - If anything worse.

Have had to send her from sewing room as she won't work and upsets the others. Imagines that Mrs. Edwards Tyddyn is her mother and hugs and kisses her etc.

In excellent health.

Dec 1 - Disposition has changed somewhat. Is in better spirits but her behaviour is sillier and more unintelligible and her conversation rambling and unmeaning.

1891 Feb 10 - Has improved very much since last entry and is quite a different girl. Rational in conversation but is still shy and diffident in manner but the same is probably to a certain extent natural.

Brighter and more cheerful and has taken to knitting etc.

Apr 15 - Doing well and may be said to have almost recovered. A very nice and well conducted girl in every way.

28 - Was today transferred to the Carmarthen Asylum - a piece of needless and expensive cruelty for the girl might have been sent home instead of to another asylum although a few weeks longer could do her no harm.

Discharged "Relieved" on April 28th 1890.

Medications/Treatments: