Proper People: Early Asylum Life in the Words of Those Who Were There by David Scrimgeour

Author:David Scrimgeour [Scrimgeour, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780993371516
Publisher: Scrimgeour Yorkshire
Published: 2016-10-31T22:00:00+00:00

Forty year old cutler William ROBERTS, from Ecclesfield, had been admitted to the Asylum from the Wortley Union workhouse on 8th January, 1852.21 He was said to have been insane six years and was occasionally of danger to others. An additional statement from John Swift, Relieving Officer, recorded in William’s case notes tells us more about his recent history.

Has been of drunken and intemperate habits. Head not known to be injured. Has been treated for insanity in the year 1846. He was sent to Camberwell Asylum where he remained eight months when he was discharged, cured, but on arriving at home he was almost immediately obliged to be sent to Dunnington House, being at that time no vacancy at the County Asylum Wakefield, where he has remained up to November, last when he was removed to the Wortley Union workhouse with a view of sending him to the County Asylum if not cured.

By April, William was fit enough to be employed outdoors on the farm and in the gardens and that routine would continue until 1861, when having recovered from erysipelas his case notes record a change of job reflecting his trade as a cutler.

19th June, 1861. His conversation is incoherent, but he works pretty well and is employed in cleaning knives and sharpening cutlery etc. He is very fond of beer and tobacco and would indulge too freely of the former beverage if not prevented having access to it.

22nd June, 1863. Continues unchanged in mental condition. Talks incoherently. Is very passionate and will quickly strike those who offend him (if the weaker party). He is employed in buffing knives, turning, cleaning silver etc and does not often abuse his privilege of being allowed full liberty within the Asylum grounds.

16th March, 1865. Remains as previous report. Is very fond of beer and often manages to get more than is good for him.

19th December, 1866. In the winter he became so very troublesome and fancy and was ever drunk, that he had to be put in the ward. And here he was very ill for some weeks with two very huge carbuncles. Now he has repented and is again at work knife buffing.

6th August, 1868. Remains as before. Last summer he accompanied an assistant medical officer and a clinical clerk on a day’s fishing and got so very drunk that on their return home he fell off the back seat of the dog-cart in which they were riding and was left in the road for some length of time before he was missed. Eventually he was landed safely at home.

The Sports Utility Vehicle of its day, the “dog cart” was a horse drawn small carriage with seats front and rear separated by a box used to hold hunting dogs, or fishing equipment. Not only is this case note a wonderful tale but the writer showed his own sense of humour through the use of “landed safely” given that the three men had been on a fishing trip.

10th September, 1868. He is now confined to bed because of his having become subject to Bright’s Disease.

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