At a later interview, during the same period, she knew the doctor's name, knew she had seen him at Ward's Island, knew
she was in a hospital, but somehow could not connect the present place with Ward's Island. She said she didn't know, when asked where she was, and when questioned about the season, said, after a pause "Summer" (February 15).
We have seen above that she once spoke of not having been a good woman. She repeated this on February 10, said "I have done lots of harm, I have been a bad woman all my life." Again: "I had bad thoughts." (What kind?) "I have forgotten all about them." It should be added that at this interview she also said, "My mind is better now."
On February 25 there was a sudden change. She laughed when a funny remark was made on the ward. Later, when the physician came to her, she still lay in bed inactive and had to be urged considerably at first, but presently began to laugh good-naturedly and quite freely commented on the funny remark she had heard earlier in the morning, and on peculiarities of some patients. She spoke quite freely and without constraint. But it was striking how little account of the condition she had gone through could be obtained from her. She either turned the questions off by flippant remarks, or said she did not know. The only information obtained was that she had been sick since Christmas, felt like a dummy, that she had lost track of time, and did not know how she had felt during that period. When asked why she had not spoken, she said, "I couldn't, I had a jumping toothache," or she said, "Ask the nurse, she put it down in the book." Or again she said, "Did you ever get drunk? That is the way I felt. I felt like dead."
She soon developed a lobar pneumonia and died.
The following typical case of partial stupor is quoted as an example of delusions appearing only during the onset.
Case 14.—Maggie H. Age: 26. Admitted to the Psychiatric Institute February 8, 1905.
F. H. The father died when 33. The mother was living. Psychopathic tendencies were denied.
P. H. The husband and brother stated that the patient was
natural, capable, rather jolly. She married about a year before admission and shortly became pregnant. During the pregnancy she was rather nervous and had various forebodings, among which were that the child might be born deformed, or that she would die in childbirth.