M. G. a woman about fifty years of age had been admitted on the incurable
establishment in July 1785. She had for some years before been in a
disordered state, and was considered as a dangerous patient. Her temper
was violent; and if interrupted in her usual habits, she became very
furious. Like many others among the incurables, she was an insulated
being: she never spoke except when disturbed. Her greatest delight
appeared to be in getting into some corner to sleep; and the interval
between breakfast and dinner was usually past in this manner. At other
times she was generally committing some petty mischief, such as slyly
breaking a window, dirtying the rooms of the other patients, or
purloining their provisions. She had been for some months in a weak and
declining state, but would never give any account of her complaints. On
January 5, 1797, she died, apparently worn out. The head was opened three
days after death. The pericranium adhered but slightly to the scull, nor
was the dura mater firmly attached. There was water between the membranes
of the brain; and the want of transparency of the tunica arachnoidea,
indicated marks of former inflammation. The posterior part of the
hemispheres of the brain was of a brownish colour. In this case there was
a considerable appearance of air in the veins; the medullary substance,
when cut, was full of bloody points: the lateral ventricles were small,
but filled with water: the plexus choroides were loaded with vesicles of a
much larger size than usual: the consistence of the brain was natural.