“Last March, instead of sliding down a slope, I jumped. This caused displacement of my womb. I suffered great agonies. I was fomented with hot water. I thought it was my back that was hurt. Since then I have been subject to fainting and weakness. I suffer great irritation about my private parts—cannot keep my hands away. The irritation is worse at night. I am obliged to relieve the irritation by rubbing—sometimes for two or three minutes at a time. There is always a discharge. I feel very depressed afterwards. At times I have lost my brain, and felt as if I did not care for living. I would like to have my hands untied; I will be very quiet. Have been separated from my relatives for three years. I shan’t tell you how long I have been married—(a pause). I am very rude—I beg your pardon. I have been married three years. I had a baby two years ago: it was not born at the full time—I think five months. I don’t know whether it was alive. I left home with my friend when I was sixteen (?). It is two years since I left him. I am now twenty-three.
“After the accident, suffered great pain.” Mr. Brown here looked at her gums, and she immediately said, “Oh, yes; I had mercury given me by Surgeon ——, in Dublin: he said it was my spine. He did not examine my womb. Dr. —— examined it, and said there was great displacement. I have been better for treatment at times. My brain has been affected. I have fought very much. I have wanted a child’s blood. I have had it sometimes by sucking the wounds of a child. When in a fit, I don’t know what is going on around, or what is being said, but I recognize people’s voices. I am not regular. Was kept in bed last September for six weeks for flooding; was so for ten days after I was put in bed. Was the same in Paris last year. I was studying in Paris to fit myself for a governess.”
The following are extracts from a letter voluntarily sent to Mr. Brown by a lady with whom the patient lived for many months, and left only three weeks previous to admission. Having stated that for some time she was hysterical, and becoming daily more excitable, the letter says—
“On the 13th of September last, she for the first time seemed delirious when going to bed. This was mentioned next morning to Surgeon ——, who declared it to be nervous irritability of the spine.... On the 27th, Dr. —— was called in, and at once gave his opinion that there was ailment of the womb. He then ordered small blisters on the lower part of the stomach, which in less than ten hours relieved her, and removed the mania. She had not any reason for many days previous, and was sinking.... On the 3rd of October, Dr. —— fixed an instrument to support the womb; and, except during the time when the intensity of pain caused it, there was no delirium; for a few days she got claret, which seemed to excite her greatly, so it was discontinued; but on the 13th of October I was desired to give her port wine in abundance. She was excessively weak, and mania so dreadful, that she made several attempts to injure herself and me. She got as many as eight large glasses of best port on some days; strong beef-tea, chicken soup, and all the nourishment possible. It was not only suggested, but it was advised to remove her to a lunatic asylum; however, feeling that certainly nine-tenths of her time she was perfectly sane, and could know well where she was and with whom, I did not like the idea of placing so young a creature in an asylum. I kept her here, and watched her day and night; she never was left alone for one moment for three months.... I ought to mention that the order for abundance of wine, &c., was from the opinion that ‘want of blood to the brain’ caused the mania; and that the intense inflammation of all internal organs was relieved by blisters on the lower part of the stomach and by mercury.”
Feb. 8. Lint removed from rectum, and wounds dressed. Is calm and rational; passed a quiet day.
Feb. 10. Very restless; obliged to restrain hands and legs.
Feb. 11. Better; says her head feels heavy; countenance cheerful; manner quiet and rational.
Feb. 12. Very excited and irritable; constantly managing to free her hands; will allow no one near her.—2 p.m.: Is quite maniacal; has managed to irritate the wounds, and also the mammæ. To have one grain of opium in pill, and ten grains of bromide of ammonium three times a day.
Feb. 13, 6 a.m. Hands again free; repeat opium. Slept afterwards till 4 p.m., when she awoke calm and rational.—9 p.m. Slept again.
Feb. 14. Very restless, and at times violent. Bandages removed and jacket substituted.