John Warrington (503)

Admission Details for Patient: John Warrington (503)

Gender: Male Age: 15
Marital Status: Single Religion: Church of England
Occupation: Boy under training
Address: "Clio" Bangor (formerly Warrington), Carnarvonshire

Date of Admission: April 21, 1890
Date of Discharge: June 21, 1890
Discharge Category: Not insane

Disease: Imbecility
Supposed Cause: Not known

Medical Certificate:
1. (i) He is a dull boy and short of understanding. Says he never had mother nor father, yet he wants to go home where he would be made comfortable. Does not know what year it is, nor what month comes before April. Evidently he is an imbecile. (ii). Mr. John R. Heard, Sick Attendant of the Clio ship, states he is fond of stowing himself away, threatened to stab the Officers on board and had in consequence to be placed in the cell and watched carefully. April 21st 1890. John Robert Hughes, MRCS London, Denbigh.

2. (i) He states he does not mind whether his head is cut off or whether he is hung. He is morose and appears to have some hallucination of his hearing. (ii) Mr. John R. Heard, attendant of the Clio Training Ship states that he is fond of stowing himself away and has threatened to kill the Captain and afterwards throw himself overboard. April 21st 1890. David Griffith Evans, MD Univ.. of Edin. Denbigh.

Approximate duration of present attack: Not known

Number of Previous Attacks: 0

Number of Previous Admissions: 0

Number of Subsequent Admissions: 0

Total Number of Admissions: 1

Relatives affected:

Epileptic: Not known

Suicidal: Yes

Dangerous: Yes

Clean Habit: -

Food Refusal: -

Sleep Habit: -

Destructive Habit: -

Disposition: -

Education: -

Physical/Mental State at Examination: Health good. This patient was brought here on the 21st instant at the time that the Com. in Lunacy were making their visit. The persons who brought him had not conformed with the usual steps necess.to admitting him, beyond bringing a Certificate signed by the Ship's doctor. The only manner in which he could therefore be admitted was as a Private Patient and he was sent to the town and 2 fresh Med. Certifs. obtained, the order being signed by the Clerk of the Clio in whose charge he was for the time being. Is said to be an incorrigible young fellow; frequently requiring corporal punishment. Very dirty and depraved in his habits.

Current Diagnosis: Dissocial Personality Disorder (F60.2)

Case Notes

1890 Apr 26 - This patient has since admission been quiet and in every way well behaved. He is a diminutive pot bellied and well nourished youth with red cheeks and blue eyes. Face and head generally indicative of a low type of intelligence. Conversation with the lad would not lead one to suppose that he is insane. He answers all questions in a ready and intelligent manner. Knows the date of month and year which his admission order states he does not and can read and write tolerably well.

So far his personal habits are cleanly. All this however is not inconsistent with a certain amt. of imbecility.

There is an absence of self control - a lack of knowledge of right or wrong - and very likely an inherent predisposition to vice and laziness as evinced by his intolerance of all forms of discipline. He is a boy who if left to his own devices would, through laziness and his animal propensities, very soon prove a danger to the community.

May 1 - Sent him a few days ago to the Tailor's shop as he stated that he could sew. The same in every other way.

12 - Soon became tired of sitting all day on the Tailor's bench and have sent him out on farm where is so far equally useless. Has no power of application and will never do well at anything. No delusions. Behaviour good.

June 10 - A very troublesome and incorrigible lad. Will probably shortly be removed to the Warrington Union.

He was discharged 'not insane' on June 21st.

Medications/Treatments:

Additional Notes

*The "Clio", launched at Sheerness in 1858, served in the Pacific and Australia before being converted to serve as an Industrial Training Ship in 1876 and towed to the Menai Strait.

The Home Office licensed the ship to provide care and training for up to 260 boys from North Wales, Chester and the Border Counties who were homeless, destitute and respectable although the Mayor of Beaumaris preferred to describe the boys as gutter children and street Arabs from the perishing and dangerous classes!