Transcript from Leicester records office, all as written except where the words were illegible.
James Tearle
Admitted to Leicestershire & Rutland Lunatic Asylum 16th
March 1886
Profession – Railway Signal Repairer.
Married, aged 51 years, wife Emma (Mary Emma), 4 children
Duration of attack – 5 days. Residence Hallaton
1st residence – Upping Hallaton Station, near
Uppingham
2nd address – Gt Oxendon (Hart, father of Emma)
Character – Good
Education – reads & writes
Religion – Church of England
Assigned causes – mental anxiety
Height 5 feet 6 ½ inches – weight 10 stone
Under delusion that his wife is unfaithful, endeavours to
knock head against iron bedpost.
Uses obscene language continually, when offered a drink
tries to bite piece out of cup.
Swears at those around him and eats with difficulty, needs
to be controlled by several men from injuring himself or others.
Complexion somewhat sallow, lungs perfectly healthy, bowels somewhat constipated.
Has an injury to “penis?”
which was self-inflicted before admission which is now healing.
Diagnosis
Became excited 5 days ago, been sleepless since. Continually
swearing and threatening behaviour and trying to injure himself.
The anxiety of his work is thought to be the cause of this
insanity. There is no history of insanity
in the family.
Has led a temperate life.
On the 10th he cut his “penis?”
Either constantly walking about, not settling down to
anything for many moments together.
Says he has saved £20 during the last year and that he is
going to start a “p? (unable to make this out - definitely not public)” house.
Is excitable and is constantly demanding to go home. Says
that the man who he worked with “drove him mad” by his idleness – owing to
having infused himself.
He is very restless and unsettled, fusses about with things
on the table, is constantly talking but only boasts of having been the best
workman in the world – his memory is confused. He speaks at times indistinctly
and through his closed “teeth”
(A bit about health and disease then further mention of
injury to “penis?”)
April 3rd & 10th (1886)
Still getting worse, tremor of lips now very marked, is
emotional and sensitive. Appears to know he is not getting better although
tries to delude people into the idea that “he never was better”.
Letters most hopelessly unintelligible, words being left out
and there (they’re) repeated and again being only just “?” and left so he does not appear to notice his errors.
Synopsis without
doubt he is suffering from General Paralysis.
17th April 1886
Always thinks he is quite well.
13th May 1886
Had a slight “?” attack
yesterday – appears very feeble and lost in mind. Not eating his food well the
last two days.
His wife has been written to about him.
20th June 1886
Still very feeble, the better part of the time since last
note he has spent in bed scarcely knowing what he has been doing – is now
improving.
23rd July 1886
Up and about again and says “he never was better in his
life” but his tremors, confused ideas and his gait belie the validity his statements.
10th November 1886
Is aggressive and very uncertain, gait unsteady, talks in
loud voice, takes food very well – inclined to be voracious.
? Dec 1886
He has quietened down a bit, is more unsteady in walking and
keeps his legs wide apart. Declares himself to be in first rate condition.
Sleeps more at night, takes his food well.
25th Feb 1887
Tremors very marked, restless and noisy at night, can hardly
stand or walk.
2nd March 1887
Is very much weaker, tremors continuous, he is very
restless.
8th March 1887
Was taken with convulsions, eyeballs injected (!!!),
unconscious of surroundings.
10th March 1887
Convulsive movements continued without intermission and he
died this afternoon.
Died this day at 5.15pm
In presence of attendant J Norman.
Cause of death – General Paralysis.
For pm Lea? Anthony Wtt (witness?) 142
The poor fellow was in this state for exactly a year, most of which appear to have been spent without visit from his wife or family. Must have been a living hell.
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