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Insanity of Adolescence [Folie de l'Adolescence]. (Arch. de Neurol., Aug., 1900.) Bourneville and Bellin

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 February 2018

Extract

The notes of an interesting case are given—fully and carefully recorded as Bourneville's cases generally are. A. G—, a girl æt. 14 years was admitted into the Fondation Vallée, March 4th, 1899. Her family history was very bad—father, alcoholic and violent; mother, hysterical, then insane; grandparents, neurotic, as well as several uncles and aunts. The patient was possibly conceived when her father was drunk, her mother being at the time liable to attacks of hysteria. She had once convulsions limited to the face; up to the age of twelve years she had nocturnal incontinence, and after this had attacks of depression, of alternating crying and laughter. When her mother was placed under care, the girl was placed in an orphan school at Les Andelys, where, no doubt, under the influence of the separation from her mother and religious practices she developed mystical delusions—she thought she was Joan of Arc and had blessed visions, etc. A few days later she came under Bourneville's care. The mystical delusions persisted for a few days, and after a short remission (March 9th—23rd) were followed by a period of maniacal excitement—crying, singing, incoherent purposeless movements, extravagance, dirty habits, and insomnia. The attack lasted a week, and was followed by a remission (March 30th—April 21st) after which she was somewhat melancholic for a while, although free from hallucinations and mystical delusions. On May 1st she was practically well. About a year later, menstruation appeared, without any mental disturbance. The treatment consisted in baths and douches, with the administration of chloral and bromides to combat the insomnia and excitement; general exercises, occupation, etc., afterwards.

Type
Epitome of Current Literature
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1902 

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