Part of the hospital grounds are now preserved as Barnwood Arboretum and the 
York parks and gardens database consequently has some information about the 
hospital: 
http://www.parksandgardens.ac.uk/component/option,com_parksandgardens/task,site/id,4356/Itemid,292/ 
 - the references mention a condensed history of the hospital.

Jan Broadway

-----Original Message----- 
From: Lesley Hoskins
Sent: Monday, April 30, 2012 11:14 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [LOCAL-HISTORY] 1861 cause of death

Dear all
Sorry, I should have been clearer. General Paralysis of the Insane
was, in the 19th century,  a well-known form of insanity. It actually
had a physical cause (syphilis) but although this was suspected it
wasn't finally confirmed until the end of 19th/beginning 20th century.
The symptoms, whether before ar after the link with syphilis was
known, included those on the death certificate under discussion, such
as mania and grandiosity, followed by degeneration of mental and
physical capacities and death. There was no medical cure at that time.
Many of the residents of lunatic asylums - but especially the men -
were admitted or subsequently diagnosed as suffering from Paralysis or
General Paralysis of the Insane. I'd say that the case under
discussion is a very clear example of such a patient. So, Lesley W.
(hello, by the way), the diagnosis on the death certificate implies
both syphilis and neurological damage, rather than something more
strictly psychological in origin. However, there were doubtless cases
of misdiagnosis of GPI - but that is a slightly different question.

All best

Lesley H.

Dr Lesley Hoskins
Visiting Research Fellow
School of Geography
Queen Mary, University of London
Mile End Road
London E1 4NS
[log in to unmask]

Thesis: Reading the inventory: household goods, domestic cultures and
difference in England and Wales, 1841-1881
http://qmro.qmul.ac.uk/jspui/handle/123456789/1261

Forthcoming edited collection: Residential Institutions in Britain, 
1725-1950:
Inmates and Environments, Pickering & Chatto www.pickeringchatto.com/inmates





Quoting Lesley Whitworth <[log in to unmask]>:

> For the benefit of all non-specialists among us who have been   following 
> this thread with some fascination, could you clarify - has  syphilis 
> (Lesley Hoskins’ suggestion) definitely been ruled out in   favour of a 
> psychological/neurological interpretation then?
> Lesley Whitworth
>
>
> On 28/04/2012 15:07, "Nick Hudd" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> Yes – I came to the same conclusion that David has. It is certainly 
> “mania”. To me, a physician, the sequence is valid. A previous 
> psychological/neurological episode two years ago, a two week episode  of 
> mania leading to an acute disaster of some sort in the brain.   This is, 
> of course, not the doctor’s writing but the Registrar of   Death. It was 
> (and is) usual to write the events as a causative   sequence, as herein
>
> Nick
>
> From: From: Local-History list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]  On 
> Behalf Of leach david
> Sent: 28 April 2012 01:07
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [LOCAL-HISTORY] 1861 cause of death
>
>
> I agree in part with Tracy Turner's reading of the cause of death,   but 
> suggest that a more accurate reading would be as follows.
>
>
>
> Paralysis
>
> 2 Years
>
> Acute Mania
>
> 2 Months
>
> Serous Apoplexy
>
> 26 Hours
>
> Certified
>
>
>
> I am no expert on nineteenth century medical diagnoses, but   searching 
> various websites suggests the following.  The   precipitating cause of 
> death is likely to be the 'Serous Apoplexy'.   This term seems to have 
> been used to describe any sudden attack,   perhaps a stroke, or perhaps 
> blood seeping into the stomach on   lungs. The 'Acute Mania' is likely to 
> have been the reason for the   patient being in a mental hospital. The 
> first condition is self   explanatory, but rather non-specific. Whether 
> the three conditions   might be linked is beyond the evidence of the death 
> certificate, but  deteriorating health over the two years seems to be 
> indicated.
>
>
>
> Best wishes
>
>
>
> Dave Leach
>
> On 27 April 2012 23:29, Tracy Turner <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> The cause of death looks like:
>
> Paralysis 2 years
> Acute marasmus 2 months
> Venous(?) apoplexy 26 months
> Certified
>
> Regards
> Tracy Turner
>
>
> From: From: Local-History list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]  On 
> Behalf Of Duncan Amos
> Sent: 27 April 2012 22:49
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: 1861 cause of death
>
>
> Hi all
>
> Can anybody decipher the cause(s) of death given on a death   certificate 
> from 1861 and explain what they might have meant in   terms of the 
> patient's symptoms and situation?
>
> The certificate relates to a patient at the "Hospital for the   Insane" at 
> Barnwood, Gloucester. Does anybody know if there are any   patient records 
> for this institution? I've looked through the online  catalogue at the 
> Gloucestershire Archives website and done a Gookle  search on Barnwood but 
> without locating anything.
>
> The patient in question was James Watts Peppercorne and he is one of  the 
> crucial 'players' in the history of Oatlands, being the last   private 
> owner of the Oatlands Mansion as well as a considerable   amount of the 
> land on which the village was subsequently constructed.
>
> Any help would be really welcomed.
>
> Thanks
>
> Duncan Amos
> Oatlands Heritage Group
> www.oatlands-heritage.org <http://www.oatlands-heritage.org>
>
>
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