Transcription of Rebecca's medical notes from her stay at Powick Asylum, 1869-1877
Rebecca Harris. Aged 60. Female. Widow.
Admitted Oct 14 1869. From Oldbury. Housewife.
Established church. Can read and write.
She is of spare habit of body and of nervous temperament. The expression of her countenance is unsettled and agitated.
She is in a feeble and reduced state of bodily health and is very thin in person. Thoracic organs normal.
The present attack is stated to be of two months duration.
Her certificate states that she is restless and very strange in her manner – thinks some persons intend to injure her – and that her relatives are starving her. Gets up and endeavours to go away from the house. Is constantly scratching her head and looks wild. Is suicidal and dangerous to others. Is not epileptic. Has attempted self-destruction by drowning.
The causes of the present attack of mental illness are poverty, domestic affliction and previous mental illness. She was an inmate of Lichfield Asylum in 1851 and was from there removed to this asylum in following year.
This is her second attack of mental illness.
30 November 1870
Had a severe attack of spasmodic asthma this evening which was relieved by the application of a hot moist sponge to the chest, and the inhalation of chloroform (?) with the vapour of water. This is the second attack within about ten days; the first was more quickly subdued by the hot sponge and a mixture of Lobelin (?), ether sulph(?) and ???? which she has been taking ever since. She suffers also from chronic bronchitis and congestion. To remain in bed and be allowed 3ozs gin daily.
23 July 1871
She is still thin and rather delicate in health, being at intervals subject to slight asthmatic and bronchitic attacks. Her mental state has somewhat improved, she is generally quiet, tractable and easily managed, although occasionally somewhat excited in her manner and conversation.
5 January 1872
Has occasional slight attacks of dyspnea but never to any great extent. Mentally unchanged.
2 September 1872
She has attacks of excitement, restlessness and discontent every four weeks, her breathing has not troubled her much lately.
16 March 1873
During the winter she was confined to bed for several weeks with bronchitis and asthma and she also had an attack of conjunctivitis. She is now able to be up daily, but her cough is still troublesome. She is still frequently discontented and excitable.
27 November 1873
During the summer she was moderately well, but within the last few weeks she has had several severe paroxysms of asthma and is at present confined to bed.
12 June 1874
Since last report she has on several occasions been confined to bed by asthmatic attacks frequently of a severe nature. At present she is able to be up daily and occupies herself usefully in the ward. She is irritable and discontented at times.
12 March 1875
The chest symptoms have frequently been very troublesome during the winter confining her to bed on many occasions for weeks at a time.
2 July 1875
Unchanged.
11 November 1875
There is no special change to record in either her bodily health and condition or mental state.
11 February 1876
Her bodily health is weak and feeble, she is constantly obliged to be confined to bed for a day or two on account of her asthmatic attacks, but when up she is fairly industrious in her ward. Her mind continues in a ???, weak, feeble and desponding(?) state and she is rather discontented.
24 May 1876
There is no appreciable change in either her bodily health and condition or mental state since last entry.
10 October 1876
She is becoming much more feeble, the asthmatical attacks and palpitations causing her to frequently be confined in her bed – taking food diets ??????......?????
30 January 1877
The symptoms became much aggravated a few weeks ago, bronchitis also ??? in general ???? set in and despite all treatment she gradually became weaker and weaker and finally sank today from “Bronchitis and emphysema with disease of the heart and liver all of several years duration.”
Jas Sherlock