Practical observations and suggestions on the treatment of mental affections / by Joseph Seaton.

  • Seaton, Joseph.
Date:
1846
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Practical observations and suggestions on the treatment of mental affections / by Joseph Seaton. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    From what I had seen of the patient, and all I could learn of his his - tory, I was induced to form the opinion that, if he could be withdrawn from his own house (with which most of his delusions were directly connected,) and his mind kept amused, his delusions would, in all probability, give place to healthy impressions. Ultimately he was placed under my care. By music, cheerful society, reading aloud to him ; by driving him fre- quently to see the different objects of interest in the neighbourhood ; in short, treating him as a sane man, I kept his mind amused, and gained his confidence ;—He has several times said to me, “ Of course, my dear fellow, I know very well you don’t think me mad; if you did you would not leave me for days together alone with your wife.”—Can there be a doubt which is the more likely to be beneficial, an influence so gained, or that which is gained by the fear of physical force ? Under this treatment he improved so greatly, as to leave little doubt in my mind of his ultimate recovery. However, after he had been with me about two months, a Commission in Lunacy became necessary (at least so it was said to be), to protect his property against the rapacity of one or two not over scrupulous creditors, into whose hands he had fallen. His improved condition rendered the result of the Commission very doubtful; however, it did succeed. The consequence of the excitement necessarily attendant upon the holding the Commission was the undoing, to a great extent, the good which had been done ; and although I still think there is a fair probability of his ultimate recovery, it is much to be regretted that so untoward a circumstance should have intervened to retard it. While the Commission was pending, it became necessary for the medi- cal man who had attended him in town (and who had been much annoyed by his removal) to visit him, for the purpose of making an affidavit. This gentleman amused me considerably by the unwillingness he evinced (in spite of the evidence of his own eyes and ears) to admit the improved state of the patient. I drew his attention to the contrast the case presented. Here was a patient entering freely into society as far as the state of his general health would permit;—visiting and seeing visitors; and (at least as far as he himself was aware) enjoying free egress and ingress at my house ;—a lady his most frequent companion ;— his only fetters,—the influence of kindness and agreeable society. How did this state of things contrast with his former position ?—A prisoner in his own house ; his mind amused by the music of the massive street-door key grinding in its wards, upon the ingress or egress of all who came to, or left, the house ; and under the strict surveillance of a strong, active young man, called a l< keeper,” armed with handcuffs and strait-waist-