Aged forty, from Horsham, Sussex, admitted in April 1822. This was a
robust, noisy, athletic fellow; he had been extremely violent, and
broke doors, windows, and every thing that looked like restraint on
him. When brought in here, he was melancholy, and much depressed, and
so continued for many months; after which his disorder took a turn,
and he became extremely noisy, and talked loudly and incoherently day
and night upon various subjects, but was not violent. He had been a
carrier, and he was not to be persuaded that a grey horse, which was
sometimes brought to the hospital, was not his own old grey mare that
he had some years ago, and he could swear to her marks. Like many
others in their derangement, he violently suspected the fidelity of his
wife, a very decent, modest young woman, who came occasionally to visit
him. Jealousy, even in a madman (often in itself the cause of madness)
is ingenious in the fabrication of imaginary causes to feed its own
rancour.
He says, “he came home one day, unexpectedly, when his wife lay ill,
and found the doctor in bed with her; this surprised him a little,
but the doctor told him it was necessary to feel her pulse: so he was
satisfied, as the doctor must know best. At another time he came
home, and found his wife was gone to be christened: he lost no time
but proceeded to the bath, where he found a baptist friend of his and
his wife naked in the bath together. This he was told was usual at
christenings, so he was satisfied--the baptist knew best.”
He had the voice of a stentor, and sung a number of songs of his own
extempore composition, not very accurate in the poetical measure, as
may be supposed. They were all roared to the same tune, if tune it was,
and Jack Wheeler of Horsham was the hero of all.
He afterwards became more tranquil, and obtained leave of absence on
the 6th September 1822: but he has never returned, or expressed his
thanks in any way, for the care and benefit he had experienced.