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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    this asylum. The arrangements of this asylum are so entirely unsuited to the safe detention of so dangerous a case of homi- cidal insanity in its most aggravated form, that I cannot longer accept, with any justice to my other patients, the re- sponsibility of his further detention and custody. I venture, therefore, to solicit your authority for his immediate removal, at the cost of his own parish, to the licensed house at Fisher- ton House, Wilts, where, as I am informed, many such dangerous criminal patients are confined, and the arrange- ments adapted to their safe custody. I have the honor, &c., &c. The Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the Home Department. [Copy.] Sussex Lunatic Asylum, Hayward’s Heath, January 19th, 1860. Memorandum, by Dr. Robertson on the case of G. T. With reference to my memorandum of the 6th instant, relative to the case of G. T., a criminal patient confined here, I have now to add, for the information of the Commissioners in Lunacy, that this morning he evinced symptoms of the homicidal insanity to which I referred, in an unprovoked and sudden attack on Mr. Gwynne, the assistant medical officer of the asylum. As in former cases at the Kent Asylum, this attack also was directed to destroying with a short implement the eye of his intended victim. It is interesting to observe that the attack was preceded by febrile symptoms (slight) yesterday evening. I have to add that I have placed him in seclusion and under personal restraint, his hands fastened to a belt, and that I feel it my duty, looking to the safety of the other members of the establishment, equally under my protection, to keep him in this condition of seclusion and restraint so long as it shall be the pleasure of the Secretary of State that he be detained here. It is my intention to solicit his sanction to the removal of G. T. to Fisherton House, where a large number of criminal lunatics are, as I am informed, in safe custody. The arrangements of this asylum partake too much of those of a hospital for the cure of disease, to enable me to deal with so formidable a case of homicidal insanity. I venture to hope that the Commissioners will concur in this view of the case. (Signed) C. L. Robertson. The Secretary of State was pleased to grant my request,