Ellen Griffith (501)

Admission Details for Patient: Ellen Eliza Griffith (501)

Gender: Female Age: 32
Marital Status: Married Religion: Calvinist Methodist
Occupation: Housewife
Address: Beaumaris, Anglesey

Date of Admission: March 17, 1890
Date of Discharge: July 5, 1890
Discharge Category: Recovered

Disease: Mania
Supposed Cause: Childbirth

Medical Certificate:
1. (i) She is in a state of restlessness and excitement, and incoherent in her reasoning and conduct, at times violently excited. Her manner and conduct are totally at variance with her usual habits when I knew her previous to marriage. Has illusions that she sees strange persons and animals around her in the room. (ii) Is most strange in her manners, sometimes singing, sometimes crying. Stands up in bed and feels along the bedroom wall saying she sees insects creeping on the wall, when there are no such things to be seen. Henry Parry Jones, Gwalchmai.

2. (1) (i) Speech incoherent, becomes excitable and violent. (ii) In reply to questions put to her makes use of no words but shouts and becomes excited and fails to use words to reply, although apparently understands the question. (iii) Says she sees red and black colours, which develop into hideous forms representing something which she fails to describe in a way to be understood. (2) Acts strangely; Sings out loud; imagines all and everybody to be against her. Weeps and laughs alternately. Jumps out of bed and threatens violence to those nursing her. The above were told by her Father, Henry Parry Thomas, Chemist, 16 Llewelyn St., Aberffraw. John Williams Rowlands, Bodorgan.

Approximate duration of present attack: Not stated

Number of Previous Attacks: 1

Number of Previous Admissions: 0

Number of Subsequent Admissions: 1

Total Number of Admissions: 2

Relatives affected:

Number of Previous Attacks: 1

Epileptic: No

Suicidal: No

Dangerous: At times

Clean Habit: No

Food Refusal: -

Sleep Habit: -

Destructive Habit: Yes

Disposition: -

Education: -

Physical/Mental State at Examination: Health feeble, previously moderate.

Current Diagnosis: Postpartum Disorder (F53.1)

Additional Diagnosis: 20.0

Case Notes

1890 Mar 18 - Patient upon admission was restless and excited but not violent. Very thin and has a few bruises on her arms and legs. Has to be fed with spoon.

Did not sleep last night.

23 - A little quieter. Habits dirty and wet. Sleeps fairly with an occasional Hypnotic. Quite incoherent in her conversation and for the most part unintelligible. Her lungs seem to be the seat of tubercular deposit, at present quiescent.

Apr 7 - Does a little knitting and has commenced to take her own food. Taking Port wine.

24 - During the last week or two has been in work room during the day. Improving slowly.

Have put her on Iron etc.

May 20 - Looking much better and is getting quite ruddy and is usefully employed daily. Still quiet and depressed and devoid of interest in home and family.

Eats and sleeps well.

June 27 - Now quite rational but often cross and irritable and extremely anxious to get away and it is probable that she would complete her recovery just as well at home as here.

July 5 - Her husband came for her today.

Medications/Treatments: Port wine. Iron etc. Occasional hypnotic

Additional Notes

Readmission:

19th May 1892 (no. 531). Medical Certificate reads: On examining her she jumped out of bed and commenced dancing around the room. She returned to her bed in her clothes and told me she wanted to ride all day long on a donkey. Her bed was covered with outdoor attire and crockery ware, the room also was strewn with all manner of articles.

In her sane moments she is particularly neat. After my examination she persisted in shouting and yelling at the top of voice, and audible outside. John Henry Jones (Dr) of Church Street, Beaumaris.

Diagnosed again with mania, Ellen remained in care until her death on 18th February 1910 from pneumonia following an attack of influenza.