Above is a copy of information on the first page of Phoebe Hughan's medical file from Bay View House. I would never have made it available here if it were not for the fact that no-one descended from Phoebe and Allan Hughan is alive today, thus diminishing the need for privacy re. medical records, albeit those from over 100 years ago.
It is interesting to note that the number of Phoebe's children is given as 'four' and not 'five', and that her religion was 'Church of England' when in reality she was a devout Protestant.
Notes on her admission are as follows:
" The patient is well developed of medium habit and nervous temperament, eyes clear and bright, countenance pale and anxious.
The physical examination of the vascular and respiratory systems reveals nothing unusual and the same may be said of the abdominal viscera. Pulse 78, small and firm.Tongue coated and indented. Skin warm and moist.No marks of violence.
This attack came on about three months ago when delusions of suspicion and fear developed themselves. She thought a brother-in-law with whom she was not on good terms was following her about with the intention of injuring her, when as a matter of fact the gentleman was not living in the neighbourhood.She asserted that certain destitute people were begging about the streets and were not what they represented themselves to be, but the brother-in-law in disguise.
She asserted that poison had been mixed with her food. And, while residing at P___ Hotel in Sydney she said that someone was concealed in a vault beneath the building and intended to blow the place up with gunpowder or dynamite. She actually refused to return to the hotel on this account.
She asserted that a price was set upon her head to the extent of some thirty thousand pounds by the Catholic Clergy and that paid spies were following her about from place to place and she would change her costume frequently in order to lead them astray.
Memory and understanding fair. No history of epilepsy. She has had two previous attacks, the first one occurring some twelve years ago.
History as to cause doubtful. Previous habits active and temperate. Family history reveals nothing.
No special treatment or restraint previously.
November 17: Very excitable and restless. Full of delusions of persecution.
November 24: Much the same.
December 1: The same.
December 8: The same
December 15th: Somewhat more tranquil.
January 23, 1890: About the same.
January 30th: No improvement mentally.
March 16: General health fair.No improvements mentally.
May 13: Much the same mentally. Somewhat indisposed bodily-constipation.
June 10th: General health good, no improvement mentally.
September 9: Much the same mentally.
1891:
February 18th:general health good, but very changeable in disposition. Very pugnacious, refusing food at times. Mentally not at all improved.
April 23: No mental improvement
June 7: No changes.
August 17: No changes.
October 25: No improvement.
December 22: Much the same.
1892.
July 2nd: No improvement mentally, at times violent and excited. Has been complaining of pain in her back of late and has remained in bed more than usual. Eats well, temp normal.
October 9: Much the same.
December 12: The same.
1893.
March 5: No change.
June 24: No change
September 19: the same
December 31: No change.
1894:
Feb 26: No change
March 1: Some congestion of right eye.
March 6: Eyes all right.
April 30: No improvement mentally.
July 7th: The same.
October 28th: Was very noisy last night and a patient named Emma Lewis sleeping in the same dormitory tried to make her keep quiet but she refused to do so. Two nurses were in the room and before they could interfere Lewis shook Mrs Hughan by the shoulders but not to hurt her, although Mrs Hughan was highly indignant and said Lewis had struck her. There was no sign of injury whatever. Mrs Hughan is frequently very excited and abusive. No further trouble occurred during the night.
November 12: General health good. No improvement mentally.
1895.
February 9: Much the same.
May 24: No improvement mentally, excited occasionally.
August 12: The same.
December 16: No change
1896.
March 10:Somewhat ___able.
June 18: the same.
September 24: Still very weak.
December 19: Somewhat strong physically. No improvement mentally.
1897.
January 9: About the same.
April 10: No improvement mentally.
July 19: The same.
September 5: No change
December 12: The same.
1898.
February 18: No improvement mentally.
April 19: No change
June 14: Much the same.
August 23: The same.
November 12: General health good. No improvement mentally.
1899.
February 12: General health fairly good. Fretful and irritable at times.
April 27: The same.
July 15: No change mentally, but general health not so good.
September 20: Rather weak and feeble.Mentally the same.
November 12: About the same.
1900.
January 15: Still very feeble physically and somewhat more tranquil mentally.
April 10: About the same.
July 28: No improvement mentally. Somewhat weak physically. Remains in bed as a rule until dinner time.
August 1st: Had an attack of vertigo during which she fell to the ground but without injuring herself beyond a slight bruise on left forehead. Nurse Kennedy was close by her at the time and attended to her. She was placed in bed and appeared to be doing well until next morning when symptoms of cardiac failure set in. There was difficulty in swallowing but no apparent paralysis. The patient gradually became worse. Pulmonary congestion ensued and the patient died at 5:30 a.m on 3rd August 1900 in the presence of Nurse Puddephatt. Nurse Freeman was also in attendance.
August 3rd: Died.
Cause of death: Cerebral embolism 3 days; cardiac failure 24 hours.
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