Studies in Forensic Psychiatry | Page 7

Rep." (After
studying the surrounding country a while, says:) "Let's see, this must be Anacostia, ain't it;
I never was out here before." (correct)
"How long did it take you to get here?"
"I don't know, sir."
"Name of this place?"
"You've got me now."
"Where is it located?"

"It seems to be in Anacostia, the way I can figure it out." (correct)
"What sort of a place is it?"
"Well, to my judgment, it looks as though it's all right."
"Who are these people about you?"
"I don't know, sir."
"Is there anything wrong with them?"
"Well, I don't know, I am afraid to say; I don't know the nature of anybody but myself."
"Why do you suppose you are being asked these questions?"
"Well, I think it is to sound my knowledge."
"Why were you sent here?"
"I don't know, sir."
"How do you feel?"
"I feel all right, with the exception of my back."
"Are you happy or sad?"
"Well, I am neither one."
"Are you worried about anything?"
"No, sir."
"Did anything strange happen to you for which you can't give yourself an account?"
"I can't understand what happened to me, or why I am here."
"Do you hear voices talking to you?"
"No, sir."
"Do you see any strange things?"
"No, sir, I don't see anything strange, only my surroundings."
"Do you ever have fits or convulsions?"
"No, sir."

"Did you ever try to commit suicide?"
"No, sir, and ain't never going to try it."
"Is anybody trying to harm you in any way?"
"Yes, I really believed somebody tried to do something to me."
The foregoing questions were answered without any hesitation and in a prompt manner.
September 6th:--Today, patient gave in a coherent and relevant manner his past history.
He talked freely, and all evidence of suspiciousness or evasiveness was absent. Upon
examination he was found to be perfectly oriented in all spheres; free from delusions and
hallucinations, and possessing quite a degree of insight into his recent mental disorder.
While reluctant to admit that he had been insane, he fully realized that something was
wrong with him. He showed a normal emotional reaction to the situation at hand; felt
satisfied with his surroundings, and was very much concerned and anxious about his
release. Special intelligence tests failed to reveal any intellectual defect. He was found,
however, to be a rather ignorant negro. Memory and attention were unimpaired.
Apperception good; physical examination showed him to be a well-developed man of
medium size, height five feet, three inches, weight 150 pounds. Aside from several
pustules on the back, he showed no physical disorders. Neurological examination,
negative.
September 14th:--Patient was today discharged by a jury, as not insane. He presented a
normal appearance upon leaving the Hospital. Insight was good, and there existed a total
amnesia for the period between August 19th, when he was arrested, and September 3d,
when he recovered from his stupor.
This case illustrates in an excellent manner the development of a mental disorder as an
immediate consequence of a situation strongly affective in nature,--in this instance,
threatened imprisonment for a grave offense.
The emotional shock of the arrest called forth in this, to all appearance, previously
normal individual, a marked excitement accompanied by hallucinations and fleeting
delusional formations. This excitement, which required the application of constant
restraint, was followed by a stuporous state and total clouding of consciousness. Upon
being removed to a hospital, and surrounded by a new environment, patient gave
evidence, after a sojourn of only a few days, of the salutary effect of such procedure. On
September 3d, ten days after admission, the stupor disappears, and the only residue of the
one-time psychosis is a complete amnesia for the entire period. The amnesia and the
hypalgesia, which the patient manifested on admission, are the two symptoms which may
perhaps be considered as more or less hysterical in nature. Aside from this, it is difficult
to see wherein the psychosis resembles an hysterical disorder. Another point which
should be mentioned here in passing, and which will be dilated upon later, is the
medico-legal importance of this class of cases. This patient was wanted for assault and
robbery in an adjoining State. Upon his admission to this institution an inquiry was
received from the U. S. Attorney for the District of Columbia as to the probable duration

and course of this man's disorder, as they had in possession extradition papers from the
authorities of the State in which the crime was committed. It was only by recognizing the
nature of this disorder that we were able to furnish the authorities with intelligent
information concerning the prognosis of the case, and which the course of the disease
corroborated in every detail. By recognizing the fact that these disorders are
consequences of the criminal