S J (897)

Admission Details for Patient: S M J (897)

Gender: Female Age: 45
Marital Status: Married Religion: Church of Wales*
Occupation: Married woman
Address: Conway, Carnarvonshire

Date of Admission: December 21, 1920
Date of Death: December 27, 1920
Cause of Death:

Disease: Mania
Supposed Cause: Family disagreement

Medical Certificate:
(a) She is shouting, looks wild and is violent. She talks incessantly and incoherently. She talks about Sinn Feiners, Cats and various other things all mixed up. (b) R J, of Cadnant Park, Conway, her husband, states: She tries to throw the crockery through the window and tries to get through the window herself. She has been singing and throwing herself about the bed during the night. She refuses to take her food. Dr. Joseph Richard Williams, Conway. 21st December 1920.

Approximate duration of present attack: 14 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: Attempted to escape through window

Dangerous: No

Clean Habit:

Food Refusal:

Sleep Habit:

Destructive Habit:

Disposition:

Education:

Physical/Mental State at Examination: Good health and condition.

Current Diagnosis: Delirium (F05)

Case Notes

1920 Dec 21 - She is in a state of great excitement, talking and shouting out at the top of her voice and has lost her self control. She struggled with the nurses when admitted and was taken to the ward with difficulty. Apparently in good health but a proper physical examination is not possible at present.

24 (copy) - Suffering from Mania. Great loss of control. Conversation most rambling and disconnected. Noisy and excited and restless.

Will not take her food willingly and is unable to sleep without a draught.

27 - She had been in a state of excitement since admission. Her conversation continued to be rambling and disconnected and she was very restless especially at nights. Sedatives had only temporary effect.

She did not take her food very well and had to be fed by the nurses in charge. This morning her mental condition had improved a little. Much quieter and could carry on a little ordinary conversation. She also took her breakfast and dinner of her own accord. About 3pm she suddenly collapsed and died within a hour apparently from cardiac failure. She did not react to stimulants or other remedies. A post mortem was refused by the husband, who gave the information that she had previously suffered from heart trouble.

Owing to her mental condition on admission a proper examination could not be made.

Medications/Treatments: Sedatives, Night draughts, Stimulants

Additional Notes

*S M J was the first patient from North West Wales to give her religion as The Church in Wales.

Although the Welsh Church Act, separating the Church in Wales from the Church of England, had been passed in 1914, it was not implemented during the War and disestablishment only came into effect in 1920.