[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—While in full agreement
with your article in the Spectator of March 8th, " The Shut Door Stands Ajar," I consider the safety of the sane individual is of vital interest to the public.
The Times of March 1st, in its article on " The Harnett Case," states if a patient has active and intelligent friends there is no difficulty in procuring his release upon recovery. But how many are there who have not " active and intelligent friends " ? Are they to remain incarcerated ? And what of those who are certified during illness, who really required medical treatment, but were diagnosed as mental ? The point seems to have been lost sight of in Mr. Harnett's case that his illness was caused by an injection of tuberculin, and was therefore likely to have been of a temporary character, as indeed proved to have been the case. I write from bitter experience. Last autumn I was inoculated against influenza. A violent reaction set in that lasted four days ; three weeks later my doctor gave me the second inoculation, assuring me there could be no reaction the second time. There was —the reaction began within two hours, by night I was desper- ately ill, and went from bad to worse. On the ninth day my limbs were paralysed, and I sank into coma. On the evening of the twelfth day the paralysis became general. For a week I lay unconscious, save for a few brief intervals, when I found I was almost blind, and asked for the best specialist to be sent for. This unfortunately was sot done, but another general_ practitioner called in.
When I awoke to full consciousness, it was to find I had been delirious. I was put in charge of mental nurses and was about to be certified. I had " an intelligent friend," and though terribly ill made a supreme effort and sent for him, and explained the facts of the case. He took action, and as a result I retained my freedom, and was able to order my own affairs.
I made a rapid recovery, and resumed my ordinary life and usual activities. I consulted a specialist who told me my illness had been toxaemia due to bacterial toxins, the result of my inoculation.
I am a widow, my sons out of England, my medical man had known me but a short time. Had I not had "an intelligent friend " I might at the present moment be in an asylum, a useless member of the community. What happened to me might happen to anyone else. Therefore surely it should be made impossible to certify a person while suffering from physical illness of a temporary character.—I am, Sir, &c.,
A FREE CITIZEN.
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