Admission Details for Patient: D O T (9392)
Gender: Male Age: 32
Marital Status: Single Religion: Independent
Occupation: Slate quarrier (former soldier)
Address: Talysarn, Carnarvonshire
Date of Admission: March 7, 1920
Date of Death: September 16, 1961
Cause of Death:
Disease: Delusional insanity
Supposed Cause: Military service
Medical Certificate:
That he was attacked and pestered by rats. That he had destroyed valuable articles. One day I saw (him) at Coedmadoc Road, Talysarn, he left Eifion Terrace (his home) because he was attacked by rats.
Mrs J T, mother, informed me that he had threatened her, after that he had destroyed curtains etc.
Mr. J O T, brother, informed me that he had threatened his mother and sister, that he had destroyed notes to the value of twenty pounds, also watch and gold chain.
Dr. E. Shelton Roberts, Penygroes.
Approximate duration of present attack: 4 months
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: Yes, attacks mother and father
Clean Habit:
Food Refusal:
Sleep Habit: Poor since discharge
Destructive Habit:
Disposition: Steady
Education:
Physical/Mental State at Examination: Rather poor and has a very quick pulse. He complains that a mouse has got into his head, and that rats are present in everything he looks at.
Current Diagnosis: Schizophrenia (F20.0)
Case Notes
1920 Mar 10 (copy) - Suffering from Delusional Insanity.
States that at home he cannot get any peace from the rats that were in the house although he did not actually see them. He heard them.
He has a delusion that there is a mouse in his head.
He states that he attacked his mother and sister but that he cannot stop himself doing it although he doesn't know why except that it was the noise in his head.
He is restless in his habits and cannot concentrate his mind on anything.
16 - Improving.
Wants to go home.
28 - Very restless when spoken to, and believes he is quite cured now.
Apr to June - The same.
July 1 - Has improved to a certain extent.
He is very nervous when spoken to and fidgets a lot with his hands.
1921 Jan - No change.
Feb 10 (copy of official report) - Delusional Insanity. Still complains of a noise in his head and that he is frequently seeing and hearing rats.
Great motor restlessness and unable to keep his hands still.
Has a habit of shutting his eyes slowly and talking to himself.
His conversation after a time becomes disconnected and rambling.
May to Oct - No further change.
1922 Jan 1 - Of quite a nice disposition as a rule. Keeps to himself but is not averse to conversation when spoken to. Says he is quite happy here and expresses no wish to get away.
Feb 8 (copy report) - Suffering from Delusional Insanity and has become demented. His memory is defective.
He states he has noises and voices in his head. Unable to apply himself to anything useful and takes very little interest in his surroundings. During an interview he is continually talking quietly and whispering to himself but cannot explain why he is doing it or to whom he is speaking.
Apr 1 - Smiles fatuously and always has a 'far-away look' in his eyes.
July 1 - A case of Dementia Praecox.
Totally oblivious of his surroundings for the most part.
1923 Jan 1 - Of a nice disposition. Continually talking to himself.
Apr - The same.
1924 Jan 1 - Dementia progressing. Always contented and good tempered.
Feb 8 (copy report) - Suffering from Dementia. Very self absorbed and keeps to himself. He walks about continually whispering to himself and has hallucinations of hearing. It is impossible to get him to take any continued interest in anything that is going.
He is inclined to be impulsive at times.
July to Oct - No change.
1925 Jan - No change.
May - A case of advanced Dementia. Quite pleasant and harmless.
Dec - Bright and cheerful but always talking to himself.
Subsequent notes indicate steady deterioration.
In June 1930 he is described as a case of Simple Dementia Praecox with apathy and loss of touch with his environment being chief features.
The official report of Feb 1932 gives a similar diagnosis adding that:
His memory is becoming progressively worse.
He talks incessantly to himself replying to aural hallucinations, which are always present and often worry him far into the night.
A Special Report dated February 1957 describes him as a chronic schizophrenic who is demented.
Radiography reports suggested silico-tuberculosis but this appears to have been successfully treated.
Medications/Treatments:
Additional Notes
Patient's brother, Mr. J O T, Llandudno Junction, wrote to the Asylum regarding clothing provided:
I called at the Mental Hospital Denbigh last Saturday, Jan 29th 1921, to see my brother who is an ex-service patient there and, in conversation with one of his attendants I was informed that the Hospital Committee only provides the upper garments of the ex- service patients and not the underclothing.
No doubt you are aware that his mother is a widow and that the Government Allottment for such patients is allotted to the Hospital Authorities for his maintenance.
Re the underclothing I should be glad to know whether the facts are as stated to me, so that measures may be taken to see that proper and suitable underclothing may be supplied to the patient.
A reply to this matter together with a word as to his present condition will be thankfully received by me.
Reply as follows:
The Ministry of Pensions pay us for service patients at the rate charged for rate maintained patients plus 3/9d per week for special clothing, plus 2/6d per week pocket money to be expended by the patient. In consideration of their War Service the Committee have given them Private Patients' diet without extra charge.
The 3/9d per week allowed for clothing does not, of course, cover the cost. Our own underclothing is more lasting and substantial than anything which can be bought now, many of the latter quickly disappearing in the wash, and a large proportion of the service patients wear ours.
In cases where they have expressed a wish to have special private underclothing this has been provided and the cost averaged over the lot.
(Correspondence in Welsh from a sister at Talysarn is wrapped inside the Reception Order) .
All relatives predeceased the patient with the exception of a nephew, JOT, Llandudno Junction, who was 19 when it fell to him to arrange his uncle's funeral.
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