Studies in Forensic Psychiatry | Page 6

seven years, he was never ill before. He
used alcoholics in moderation, and denies venereal history. Criminal history is uncertain;
according to his statements he was arrested but once before, for fighting. It appears that
he was working as usual until August 19th, when he was arrested on a charge of assault
and robbery. The patient has a hazy recollection of this; he cannot say how long ago it
was, but thinks it was sometime in August; he was arrested at night; cannot state at just
what time, but is certain that it was after sunset; does not know who arrested him; says
there were several of them; does not know whether they were policemen or detectives.
The police records show that he was arrested on the night of August 19th, after a

desperate fight. The following day he suddenly became insane in his cell at the fourth
precinct station house. He became very excited; commenced to shout that he had been
shot in the abdomen by an enemy. When offered food he threw it at the policeman
through the bars of his cell door, and then began beating his head against the walls of his
cell. He was transferred to the observation ward at the Washington Asylum Hospital. The
records of that institution show the following: On admission he was yelling, cursing, and
very much excited; completely disoriented; repeated the same sentence over and over
again in a singing fashion. He talked to the Lord, and answered imaginary questions; had
auditory and visual hallucinations, and various delusional ideas; thought someone was
talking to him constantly; that he was being shot at every few minutes, and yelled with
anguish at every supposed shot. He cried and sang alternately. Owing to his marked
excitement he had to be kept in constant restraint.
On admission to the Government Hospital for the Insane, on August 23d, three days after
the onset of the disorder, he was in a semi-stupor; no replies could be gotten to questions,
and his attention to the extent of looking at the examiner could be engaged only after
vigorous shaking. General hypalgesia was present; he responded but very feebly to pin
pricks. He was absolutely passive to the admission routine, and offered no resistance
whatever to what was being done to him. His body did not show any resistance to passive
movement, on the contrary, it was rather limp. He was lying in bed staring in a fixed
manner straight ahead of him and would emit an occasional grunt, and a few
unintelligible words. He refused nourishment, was untidy in habits, and appeared to be
wholly oblivious to his environment. Respiratory and cardiac action somewhat
accelerated, pulse rapid and feeble.
August 25th:--Continues in the same stuporous state; absolutely oblivious to his
surroundings; refuses food; untidy in habits. Aside from an unintelligible word or two,
has not spoken any since admission. There are several beginning pustules on his back.
August 28th:--Some improvement noted; asks for water spontaneously; when spoken to
says his back aches, and that they are pouring water on him. "I read the book, I went to
church." Unable to feed himself or dress without assistance; totally disoriented.
August 30th:--Came out in the hall today, and spent the time sitting quietly on a settee;
does not take any interest in his surroundings; has not spoken any spontaneously.
Answers are given in a brief and retarded manner, preferably in monosyllables, and not to
the point. On being questioned concerning orientation, says: "My back, church, the book",
"they are burning me up." Appearance indicates marked confusion.
September 3d:--The patient suddenly became clear mentally this morning; seems to have
completely recovered from his stupor; attends to his wants, and answers questions in a
clear, coherent manner. Approached the physician this morning and asked for a laxative;
says that he remembers nothing that transpired during the period since his arrest, and a
day or two ago, when he began to see things more clearly; complains of pain in back;
does not know where he is, and thinks he came here yesterday.
"What is your name?"

"E. E."
"Age?"
"I will be 33 the 16th of this coming April."
"When were you born?"
"In 1879."
"What is your occupation?"
"I am supposed to be a huckster."
"Where were you born?"
"At Columbus, South Carolina."
"What day is this?"
"Sunday." (correct)
"Date, month and year?"
"It's the 9th month, 1911, I don't know the date; I have not seen an almanac."
"What is the time?"
"I don't know, sir; I think it is pretty near one o'clock." (correct)
"Where did you come from?"
"I don't know where I came from; they hit me over the head."
"When did you come here?"
"I don't know; I look out of that building that looks like the House of