Aged thirty-three, admitted 18th April 1822. This man came from
Milton Abbey, Dorsetshire; had been a gentleman’s servant, and since
a labourer. The leading character of this patient’s malady is the
shortness of its intermittent periods, which scarcely ever exceed three
or four days, before he again relapses for a similar time; and thus the
alternation continues from time to time.
When in his state of distraction, he will stand for hours together,
with his eyes fixed on the ground, until roused from his reverie
by the approach of strangers, or the physicians, or any person not
familiar to him; he will then start suddenly, stamp with his foot on
the ground, and exclaim, in a loud voice, “God bless the king, and all
the admirals--he would fight up to his neck in blood for them.” He does
not like the French; and every person he dislikes he calls a Frenchman.
He drinks, in his small beer, “God bless and save the Government, and
King George the IVth: he would sooner be transported to Newfoundland
than die in France.” His discourse is extremely wild and incoherent.
During the short intervals that he continues tranquil, he is obliging,
civil, quiet, and anxious to make himself useful: and indeed naturally
an honest, industrious, good kind of man; and, from the favourable
symptoms of his convalescence, he will probably be soon discharged.