Eleazor Brereton (6527)

Admission Details for Patient: Eleazor Brereton (6527)

Gender: Male Age: 45
Marital Status: Widowed Religion: Church of England
Occupation: Railway labourer
Address: Bangor, Carnarvonshire

Date of Admission: March 4, 1905
Date of Death: August 19, 1905
Cause of Death: Acute Tubercule Lungs certified COD.

Disease: Melancholia with stupor
Supposed Cause: Loss of wife

Medical Certificate:
That it is difficult to fix his attention - that he said he knew no reason why he acted as he did yesterday - refusing to be roused from his pretended sleep - and that he said his wife came to him the other night telling him that she had come to fetch him to heaven. Leah Grant, 65 Tanymynydd, Bangor, states that no sooner does he finish his food than he protests he has had none and wants more - that he dies not sleep - that he is incoherent in speech and laughing without cause - that he said his deceased wife had come to the room to fetch him to heaven and that he pretends to be asleep, lying stiff and refusing to be awakened. Dr. Emyr Owen Price, 286 High Street, Bangor.

Approximate duration of present attack: 35 days

Number of Previous Attacks: 0

Number of Previous Admissions: 0

Number of Subsequent Admissions: 0

Total Number of Admissions: 1

Relatives affected:

Epileptic: No

Suicidal: No

Dangerous: No

Clean Habit: -

Food Refusal: -

Sleep Habit: -

Destructive Habit: -

Disposition: Steady

Education: -

Physical/Mental State at Examination: Health moderate. This man buried his wife a few weeks ago and this seems to have upset him and caused insomnia, he has always been steady and there is no history of insanity.

Current Diagnosis: Depressive episode (F32.2)

Additional Diagnosis: 32.8

Case Notes

1905 Mar 11 - A prematurely aged looking man for 45 years, hair and whiskers turning grey. Grey irides. In but moderate bodily condition. General organs healthy.

Mentally suffering from Melancholia with some degree of Stupor. Most of his time he lies as if asleep and will not get up. Says he frequently has visions of his recently deceased wife and that he hears her speak to him, calling him to her in Heaven.

Is in a very miserable depressed condition.

Mar 20 - Condition varies much day by day. Sometimes lies as if asleep for a whole day and then becomes active again. General condition one of depression and he still has visions. Apr 8 - Still very restless, injures his own skin by continual rubbing. Now wears patent gloves. Has ceased having prolonged bouts of sleep. No general improvement. May 30 - isq.

June - Losing flesh - has an evening elevation of temperature. Short cough.

(Dates of subsequent notes are obscured by the death certificate). - In sick ward with Acute Tubercle. Aug 19 - Died today from Exhaustion.

Medications/Treatments: 'patent gloves' to prevent rubbing