A case of homicidal mania, without disorder of the intellect / by C. Lockhart Robertson.

  • Robertson, C. Lockhart (Charles Lockhart), 1825-1897.
Date:
[1860]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A case of homicidal mania, without disorder of the intellect / by C. Lockhart Robertson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    It will be seen by this memorandum, that my opinion leant to his ultimate discharge, and that I thought he had re- covered from his homicidal mania. This memorandum was written on the 6th of January. On the evening of the 18th of January, the patient who had con- tinued to conduct himself with perfect sanity, was present at one of our weekly balls. I spoke to him, and he complained to me of not feeling very well, and his tongue was white, and he looked, I thought, rather out of sorts. While I was speak- ing to him, he complained of faintness, and I took him into the assistant medical officer’s room, adjoining the ball room, where I gave him a glass of whisky and water, and he laid down on the rug. In a quarter of an hour he was better, and I advised him to go to bed, which he did. I recollect knives were lying on the table, and he could, had he been so disposed, then dangerously have injured either Mr. Gwynne or myself. Next morning (January 19th), while Mr. Gwynne was on his morning round in the airing court, the patient came up and shook hands with him, as usual, and said he wanted to speak to him about some money matters of his own; he then suddenly, and without the slightest pro- vocation, attempted, with a sharp piece of wood he had con- cealed about him, to destroy Mr. Gwynne’s eye. The blow fortunately glanced off his forehead, but was so severe as to knock him down. He then closed with him, and attempted to kick and injure him, but was speedily overpowered. He was placed in the padded-room, and visited by me an hour afterwards. His manner was much excited. He said he had done it; that he always had an objection to medical officers ; that he would not injure any of the attendants ; that Mr. Gwynne had a lucky escape, &c., &c. He was informed that he would be kept under restraint, and secluded while here. He said he had brought it on him- self by his misconduct, and that he had been leniently dealt with. On the evening of the 19th of January, I addressed the fol- lowing letters to the Home Office, and to the Secretary of the Oommissioners in Lunacy. [Copy.] January 19tli, 1860. Sir,—1 have the honor to enclose herewith a copy of a memorandum I have this day addresed to the Commissioners in Lunacy, having reference to the case of G. T., a criminal lunatic, removed under your Order of the 4th of October, 1859, (25153), from the Kent Asylum, at Banning Heath, to