Aged forty, admitted 19th December 1822. This poor man was a butcher
in London, and was in a bad state of health when he came here. His
derangement was attributed to a cause, very rarely, if ever heard of,
namely, his extraordinary success in business: it is sometimes usual
for a man, when anticipating any singular good fortune, to say, if
such an event was to occur “I should go mad for joy;” but here we have
practical illustration, if the report of his friends be true. He had
formerly been much embarrassed, and sustained many severe losses and
disappointments; but latterly every thing he undertook was successful:
his trade flourished, he was paying off rapidly his former debts, and
succeeding in his business far beyond his most sanguine expectations,
when he became disordered in his intellects, and was brought to Bethlem.
Here his ideas were continually occupied on his trade; he was always
giving answers to his customers; praising the various joints of meat,
and fixing his price; and one time he imagined he had bought five
hundred bullocks at a halfpenny each; sheep, two for three farthings;
and lambs three a penny. He was continually making bargains in
Smithfield; “send me home these fifty bullocks, here’s your money,
fifty pence make four shillings and twopence; fifty halfpence are two
shillings and a penny; here you are; here’s your money; what do you
buy? what are you looking for? very well, come in an hour, ma’am, my
man’s out; kill them bullocks; yes, sir; do it directly; I am going to
get half a pint of beer; very well, make haste; bring me a glass of
brandy and water,” &c. &c. &c. In this manner was his distracted mind
continually exercised, until his health declining very fast, he kept
his bed, and died 14th January 1823.