Patients - Explore Bethlem

Name of Patient.

Frances Eve Benjamin

Gender.

Female

Age.

28

Admitted.

January 28th, 1888

Previous Place of Abode.

35 Moslyn Road, Brixton

Occupation.

None

Married.

-

Single.

Yes

Widower.

-

Number of Children.

-

Age of youngest Child.

-

Whether the first Attack.

No

Age on first Attack.

20

Duration of existing Attack.

About a week

How many previous Attacks.

1

Confined in any Lunatic Asylum.

Yes

Where.

Bethlem Hospital

When.

January 14th, 1880

And how long.

to July 1880

Supposed Cause of Insanity.

Domestic Anxiety

Exciting.

Predisposing.

Whether Suicidal.

No

Whether dangerous to others.

No

Has the Patient been of sober habits.

Yes

Degree of Education.

Fair

State of Bodily Health.

Religious Persuasion.

Jewish

Relatives similarly afflicted.

Yes

And the degrees of Relationship.

Uncle

1st Medical Certificate.        
1. Facts indicating Insanity observed by myself.
I cannot get her to speak or take food she having had none for some time past. Her behaviour is quite unusual, she grimaces and seems under strong excitement.

2. Other facts (if any) indicating Insanity communicated to me by others.
Mrs. Rebecca Benjamin her mother says she has been for some nights sleepless.
A.M. Simmonds, 66 Camberwell Road, S.E.

2nd Medical Certificate.       
1. Facts indicating Insanity observed by myself.
She has all the appearance and manner of a person suffering with Acute Mania. She refuses her food and will not speak.

2. Other facts (if any) indicating Insanity communicated to me by others.
Rebecca Benjamin informs me that she has been once before a patient in Bethlem Hospital, that a few days since she threw away the contents of her pockets and tore her clothes.
J. Thompson Hayne, 320 Brixton Road, S.W.

Discharged.

Left the Hospital.

Died.

Relation of Informant to Patient:   Mother.

Family History.
Insanity or other Diseases of Nervous System:  
Uncle paternal died in Hayward’s Heath Asylum – Aunt also insane.
Phthsis:   No.
Alcoholism:  
Diabetes:   No.
Other Diseases:   No.

Previous History.
Neuroses in Patient:   Rather nervous. Suffers from neuralgia.
Acute Rheumatism or Chorea:   No.
Fits – epileptic or hysterical:   No.
Fits – infantile:  
Fevers, &c.:   No.
Syphilis:  
Other Diseases:   No.
Sober:   Yes.
Number and nature of previous attacks:  
Was in this Hospital January 1880 to July 1880. Been quite well ever since.
Injuries or shocks:  
Has worried about Tumours her mother has in her breast.
Catamenia:   Regular.

Present Attack.
Time of earliest symptoms:   About a week.
Nature of earliest symptoms:  
Refused food. Sleepless. Threw things out of her pocket into the fire. Crying and laughing. Refused to speak. On 23rd she tore up her clothes. Very excited but not violent.
Progress of case:  
Suicidal or Dangerous (facts):   No.
Tendency to leave Home:   No.

Hallucinations.
Sight:   ?
Hearing:   ?
Taste:   ?
Smell:   ?
Common sensibility:   ?

On Admission.

Digestive functions --- Tongue:   Clean. Moist
Appetite:   Bad.
Bowels:   Constipated.
Hallucinations of Taste and Smell:  
Delusions related to digestion or food:  
Obstruction:  
Poison:  
State of Lungs:   Normal.
State of Heart:   Normal.
State of Reproductive Organs:  
Urine, sp. gr.:  
Eyes and sight:   Brown.
Pupils:   Equal not dilated.
Hallucinations:  
Ears and Hearing:   Good.
Hallucinations:  
Common Sensibility:  
Temperature:  
Reaction to questions:   Poor.
Delusions, Exaltations:  
Delusions, Depression:  
Suicidal:  
Homicidal:  
Memory, Recent:  
Remote:  
Sleep:   Restless.
Dreams:  
Walk:   Good.
Reflexes:  
Dynamometer:  
Weight:  
Handwriting:  
Diagnosis:  

Rather tall (?) hysterical looking girl of a Jewish cast of countenance, dark. Hair dark brown. Rather thin. Hardly speaks at all. Smiles in a silly manner when looked at or spoken to. On admission was placed in a four bedded room in 2, but as she was noisy had to be moved during the night to a single bedded room. Afterwards moved to F.I.B.
On admission refused food and had to be fed with stomach-pump, but after that she has taken her food herself, with difficulty. She will not answer questions – Will not occupy herself in any way. Fairly tidy in her dress.
Feb. 7 – Last night was given 5 ?? 5 b/c solution of Hopeine hypoderm. Before injection pulse 100 irregular, respiration 20. Pupils medium-sized equal. 5 minutes after injection pulse 112 irregular – 10 minutes after pulse 96, respiration 24 – 15 minutes after pulse 88 irregular, respiration 24. Pupils slightly contracted. About ½ hour after patient seemed very faint.
Feb. 8 – Patient is very faint at times today.
Feb. 10 – Refuses her food, has to be fed with stomach-pump. Troublesome.
Feb. 18 – No change.
Feb. 26 – Still the same condition. Has to be fed with spoon. Will not answer questions – lies about the ward all day doing nothing. The other day set her hair alight at the candle. Smiles in a silly affected manner when spoken to.
Mar. 23 – No change.
Apr. 2 – No change.
Apr. 18 – No change.
Jun. 21 – No change.
Jul. 10 – Somewhat tidier – no other change.
Jul. 12 – Somewhat more rational and less excited.
Aug. 7 – Much improved – To Witley.
Aug. 29 – Discharged well.