Children of Daniel and Elizabeth Binns

Single, aged 21, clogger of Crawshawbooth, has been violently excited about 6 days. He had an attack, two or three years ago, _^^{from which she shortly recovered,} between which & the present he has been completely sane. No immediate cause is Known, but he is said to have been always of a very contradictory disposition and fond of arguing. The disorder is thought to be Constitutional ^{Hereditary, probably on maternal side}. He has been bled & taken cathartics, but is was in good bodily health except being reduced in strength by his violent exertions. He has shewn a disposition to refuse food & to injure others but not himself. He has not had fits nor palsy, nor been previously confined.

The disorder is describe as having shewn itself in violent fits of passion, in incoherent language & in sudden attacks upon his parents, attendants, occasional refusal of food; much & loud laughing & talking, being occasionally still for short intervals; with very little inclination for sleep.

As stated above nothing very decided was ascertained respecting the cause of the disorder; but he mentions that he had an injury of the head when about 9 years of age, though not at all confident that this had anything to do with the [two illegible words] mental disturbance. He thinks that his trade as a clogger by confining him too much to the stopping posture may have predisposed; & that an attack of fever when 17 years of age & not long before the first attack of excitement may have more directly produced it.

He appears to have been an intelligent youth, & fond of the acquisition of knowledge, & also to possess _^^{more than the average} considerable power  of reflection. He has read much in such works as he had access to both relating to physical & metaphysical science; & there is some reason to believe that his view of religious truth may have been unsettled to a certain extent, from an imperfect & defective enquiry especially into its connexion with & correspondence to philosophical views.   His residence at home with his friends does not appear to have been agreeable to him, in consequence of the want of reciprocity of feeling &c. The results of his mental cultivation on the one side, & the [several illegible words] character of his parents on the other, who appear to have made _^^little allowance for the different character of their son; who is evidently of a warm & irritable but at the same time [pacable?] disposition.

He appears to have been very violent upon this first admission, but to have soon recovered; & he took medicine but once (?) during this stay [illegible medical expression]

H^y Binns was readmitted; still unmarried; & now aged 26; has been suffering for the last 8 or 9 days from the third attack of rather violent mania. He was of in a low desponding way for a day or two, at the commencement, & afterwards became very violent & difficult to manage. & has both refused food & attempted to injure others.   Nothing is stated respecting the cause of this attack, though he attributes it to some slight domestic infelicity & want of harmony

The interval of sanity for more than four years has been complete. A week ago, viz two or three days after the first appearance of mental disorder, he was bled from the arm & had aperient medicines administered.

State upon admission. Is rather above the middles stature, moderately stout; & [illegible word] the state consequent upon the high degree of mental excitement appears as strong vigorous & healthy young man.   He had been very noisy & violent upon the journey & require two men to controul him in addition to personal restraint.  His countenance flushed & of a bluish hue; gums rather spongy & sore & breath decidely offensive perhaps from having taken calomel_^^{[a few illegible words]}: He is covered with perspiration in consequence of his excitement & ^violent exertions: The pulse appeared rather feeble: The head decidedly [a few illegible words] A little wine & water if needful.

The excitement has abated a little; but he had a very restless night & did not keep in bed: _^^{complains of terrible dreams, like visions;} bodily symptoms nearly the same. bowels have not been open.

[illegible word] & pudding diet.

[illegible medical expression]

Another noisy & restless night, [illegible word] violent & excited, though not to a very great extent. He broke some panes in the lodging room, & the attendant fastened him in bed. Considerable heat of surface & other febrile symptoms; [illegible word] strong. [illegible medical expression]

Very decided improvement has taken place, though he still remains irritable & is soon excited: Since the 20^th has gone out daily & employed himself by digging &c for from three to four hours a day on an average. Also good nights, though they are often disturbed by dreadful dreams, even while he is awake. The dreams he describes as continuing after he is awake, as a sort of vision; though he is [illegible word] he is conscious that it is but a dream. He took the mixture for about a week; the appetite is good, but the bowels still require aperients.

[illegible medical expression]

Continues in the same improved state; but has not advanced much since last report, & is rather troublesome in seeking the company of the women servants in the Kitchen: goes out to work daily: bodily health appears fair.

[illegible medical expression]

Continues better & goes out daily. The exercise &c appearing useful to him. Bowels compressed. [illegible medical expression]

Rather more of excitability has been apparent during the last week; with some return of heat about the head & flushing of the face; puls rather quickened.

[illegible medical expression]

Appears better & is less irritable Is beginning to go out to dig again: sleep still occasionally disturbed by the same singular kind of dreams. Has taken five of the pills, & the gums have been made slightly sore.

[illegible medical expression]

Having appeared quite well for at least a month: is discharge this day recovered.    He was recommended to exchange his sedentary mechanical employment for an agricultural one, & this meets his own views of the case, & apparently also agrees with his predilections.

Finis

Heard a good account of him.

Henry Binns was readmitted. This is the third attack, & of a few weeks duration, though his friends are now of opinion that the interval since the last attack has not been one of complete sanity. The disorder has been characterized by them as of very improper & indecent language & by a propensity to injure those around him. He has occasionally refused his food. This attack was not preceded, like the last, by any appearance of depression. He is stated to eb in good bodily health; but bleeding by leeches, & aperient remedies have been employed.

The following account I received from the friend who accompanied him.

Not long after his return, or 7 or 8 mo^s since, it appears that he left the clogging business, & occupied himself in farming on a small farm of his father's: he had however not sufficient occupation, & this perhaps may have occasioned his relapse. Ever since his return home  however his manners & conduct were noticed to be different:—he spent money foolishly, was noisy & often "rough with his tongue", & never attended meetings for worship.—No decided mark of insanity, however, was observed, until 2 or 3 weeks since when he attacked, (as far as known without provocation) & behaved so violently to a boy whom he met in the fields, that it was said he might have milled him if help had not been at hand. He continued in a very unsettled & irritable state of mind after this, & on the 13^th ins^t. he appeared to be suffering from a cold & was noticed holding his hand to his head.

Upon admission he appeared silent, self-absorbed & rather morose; & hesitated in returning monosyllabic answers to _^^the questions addressed him. He conducted himself without violence upon the removal of the restraint which it had been thought necessary to apply during the journey by railway.  His conduct however during that & the following day was foolish & unsettled; rambling about the room, disarranging the furniture &c: occasionally he was very loud in giving vent to noisy vociferations, & he was frequently singing particularly during night or whilst in his chamber.

The surface was cool, tongue moist & white, pulse not particularly frequent or otherwise affected: appetite good; eyes fixed & rather turgid. Bowels [two illegible words]. He appeared strong & active, & in good bodily health.

[illegible medical expression]

Appears steadier, much less absorbed _^ⁱⁿ himself & more cheerful & conversible. He goes out to work & appears to enjoy it, but he works in his gloves. He is still noisy at times & is beginning to dispute & quarrel with some of the patients who surround him.

[illegible medical expression]

Went to meeting without permission this morning, & threw a newspaper on the floor soon after taking his seat: in the afternoon at reading without rising he shouted out "The ways of God are unchangeable".—On the whole however he does not appear worse.

Being allowed to go to meeting this morning, soon after a friend had spoken, he repeated in a high tone of voice _^^{without rising,} Judge not " &c the first two verses of the 4th chapter of Matthew On the whole he appears better & is less noisy at night. At his request, is allowed half a pint of beer at dinner.

Continues much the same, irritable, unsettled & rather perverse: He however occupies himself in the open air, & appears in good health. The following letter he put into my hands, in reply to one [illegible word] received from his mother.

"11mo 11. 1841

Mother,

          Received thy letter.—it was most acceptable.—I am in excellent health.—My spirits are moderate.—I take coffee & toast to breakfast—rice pudding & meat [two illegible words] or other vegetables to dinner at 12 o'clock – Tea at ½ past 4 and supper at ½ past 7 & to bed at8.—Bread & milk to supper with a very small quantity of cheese.          I want nothing. I am surrounded by friends real or pretended. I begin to see that I am respected by the Ladies The opinions of young men I don't—cannot value???    Hannah Ponsonby has bought me 2 pocket handkerchiefs & 1 for the neck– to be worn in halves.  Jno Harrison desires his love! (The old gentleman that I wrote to 4 or 6 mos since) I get out to work every working day—I dig with a spade—I take ½ pint beer to dinner—I shall discontinue the regular use soon—I have taken it 3 days. I had water previous but stole a mouthful of beer now & then—give my respects Father, to Uncle Joseph & to Uncle Geo. Pilkington—Tell Uncle Joseph to send me the pen knife out of a box in the Leather Shop. Give my love to ss^er Jane and Ann—to Martha when you write.   I conclude. Henry Binns. Remember me to D^r Taylor. If you can send for [thers?] watch either in or out of repair—I am in no hurry for either. Farewell for the present.

(There follow in separate lines, – the words –/

2a	Tub. Piece Pot – kettle. Spoon – Salt – Water He that tilleth his land shall eat bread.
1¼

Is quiet, sluggish, & generally good natured, fond of smoking, w^h appears to soothe him Health seems good.

A great improvement since the above was written has taken place in the habits of this patient. He is now one of the most industrious regular four workers out of doors. In mind he is still irritable & sullen, but generally tractable. Health good.

For several months past there has been an increased tendency to ill feeling & Violent. He appears to have been unfavorably influenced by another patient (J.J.) who succeeded in disaffecting him towards the managers of the Institution generally. There is also one patient (W.S.) to whom he evinces unceasing hostility. A dose of Cal. & Jal. has been occasionally administered with good effect – he continues his out of door labour as before, but is looked upon with more apprehension & requires great care.

Is rather better. Since 30. He continues much the same. a little milder, appears pleased with the new rooms, into w^h. the patients have just been removed.

With the exceptional of occasional outbursts of passion, he continues in a satisfactory state.

Much the same in all respects

He has been in doors a few days with small furunculi on the neck and face.

Better.

Up to a few weeks ago he has remained much the same but of late has become noisy violent & quarrelsome ordered He is now taking Ant Part & improving under it

Remains excited but is better

He is quiet & civil but complains of pain in the back.

He is better but his appetite is bad seems weak, a little depressed from the long excitement.

He is better & now begins to eat more freely.

He still professes to feel great weakness & has much anxiety to keep his bed.

Still anxious in bed. When advised to get up becomes excited & seems as if he would be violent so that he is allowed for the present to remain where he is.

He looks very thin & feeble to take Morph Aeel gr 4 bis x

He is looking better again.

Had a bad night last night after morphia his breath smells very bad & he looks thin & weaker

He still lays in bed & complains of his back but it is better He eats better & seems better, but lately is lazy

He continues much in the same state.

He remains in his usual state

He still lies in bed, & cannot be got up without exciting him.

He spends most of his time in doors. Walking about, & often lying about seeming unable to apply to anything; but since he came down from his bedroom & has been mostly quiet.

For the last 3 days he has almost entirely abstained from food. Almost everything that could be thought of has been offered to him, & place by his bed, but he has professed to have no appetite of power to take anything except some coffee. He looks very pale, his pulse is feeble & he has appeared lately in a very feeble condition. There being no evidence of serious disease, I determined this morning to have him fed per vim. When the attendant entered his room for the purpose of feeding him, he preferred taking the food of his own accord, & swallowed half a bason of egg & milk, & afterwards eat some toast & biscuit.

He continues feeble in bodily health & remains in bed. If got up, he soon feels tired & looks languid & worn.

There is nothing further to report in this case.

Yesterday at 2 o'clock, the Attendant called my attention to the state of his hernia; it was large, full, & tense on the left side. I made an attempt to reduce it, but was unable, partly no doubt, from his restlessness. I then administered a large injection of warm water & common salt which remained a short time & then brought away a large quantity of flatus with some faecal matter. After this another unsuccessful attempt was made to reduce the hernia; he was then put under the influence of chloroform, & renewed efforts were made to reduce the hernia, at first it resisted by by degrees a large portion of it reentered the abdomen, a small knuckle remaining & refusing to enter the canal for a considerable time. In consultation between D^r Williams & myself we decided to send for M^r Husband, thinking it might be necessary to operate; but by the time he arrived, we found that the remaining knuckle of intestine had re-entered the abdomen. The abdomen was a little tender, but there had been no symptoms of strangulation. This morning there is a little tenderness & puffiness of the abdomen but no other symptoms; the old hernia on the right side which appears to consist entirely of omentum was also tense along with the other, it appears to remain station. upon, On the whole the health of HB has been greatly improved latterly; he _^^has is takeng solid food & usual diet & seemed every way better, what can have given rise to the impaction of the hernia cannot be stated.

Since the last report he has been wearing the Truss; but on the whole has not been quite so well, being very silent & introverted, feeling also weak.

He continues in his usual state.

There is no material change to report.

He remains in a condition of great bodily debility; & has an extreme objection to being dressed & coming down stairs, & there is a great tendency to constriction of the limbs, partly arising from the large hernia which he has, & partly I think from some cerebral disease.

There is no material change to notice.

      D^o           D^o              D^o

Continues the same

      D^o           D^o

No material change in his condition.

Within the last two weeks has been excited, & very noisy, & had to be removed into a less amply furnished room to guard against violence, and annoyance to others. He has now about regained his usual torpid condition. Co-incident with this attack there has been much constipation of bowels.

Is in his usual condition

             D^o           D^o

Has been very much excited during the last few days, shouting and breaking all windows he can get access to. His bowels have been confined, with the free use of Hand Domestic he is calming down.

He is in his usal usual condition, free from excitement.

He has at times lately been excited & noisy, but has had no very violent oubtreak.

He has been a little more excited lately, but altogether remains without material alteration.

During the last 4 days Hy Binns has been very much excited, shouting most of the day and night, the intervals are very short & seem only caused by sheer exhaustion. He takes very little food. An attack of excitement so long and severe is very unusual with him.

He is taking Chloral. Hyd. gr xv. ter die – and the bowels freely opened by medicine.

Has begun to take a good quantity of beef tea with bread and milk. Still as excited and noisy.

To take Morp Aeet gr ½

             Hyd. Chloral gr xx. hor. some. om. noct.

Has passed a restless though much quieter night – talking most of the time, but not shouting.

He has not been so violently excited since the last draught and seems to be calming down. takes [illegible word] food well.

             D^o           D^o

He remains in his usual condition, generally very quiet in bed doing nothing & sometimes maniacally excited for a day or night, then settling down again.

Remains in his usual condition

Henry Binns is occasionally excited for a day or two generally needing [illegible abbreviation] g the aperient powder & then he becomes quiet again.

There is no change in H. Binns' mental or bodily condition.

For the last fortnight Henry Binns has been much excited cursing & swearing & breaking glass. He is now quieter & in his usual state.

H. Binns is at present suffering from an attack of Bronchitis from which_^ ^however he seems to be recovering.

H. Binns is in good bodily health. He is quiet & does not give much trouble, he stays all day in bed.

In his usual state as noted above

               D^o                        D^o

Last week this patient again became slightly excited. He is now in his usual state.

In his usual state.

Has occasional periods of excitement but for the most part remains quiet. Bodily health good.

Remains as above noted.

There is no change to be noted

Continues as above

Continues in much the same condition nearly always in bed   sometimes slightly excited.

There is no change in this patient.

Henry Binns is evidently deteriorating; for some little time he has refused all solid food & for 2 days refused food altogether. he will now take a little bread & milk if it be left in his room. he will not speak to any one hence it is impossible to find out if he is suffering in any way.

He has recovered somewhat & is in much the usual condition

Henry Binns who was admitted here Oct 19^th 1841 has been failing for some months ^^past. During the last two days he has been weaker, and died this evening at a quarter to [illegible word] the presence of John Buckley medical

Report of Post Mortem made 65 hours after death by H E Spencer L.R.C.P. Edin. Resident Med^l Officer, York Dispensary

1^st. There was a large inguinal Hernia on left side not strangulated.

2^nd. A small bubonocele on right side, not strangulated.

3^rd. The tunica vaginalis on puncturing, contained a large amount of dark coloured fluid evidently the contents of an old Hydrocele.

4^th. The right testicle was in a condition of chronic orchitis with calcareous degeneration

5^th. There was no rupture of either urethra or bladder – prostate _^^enlarged healthy

6^th. The Kidneys were in a state of chronic Interstitial Nephritis with some cysts on surface  Capsules adherent.

7^th. The heart was in a state of great fatty degeneration, with atheromatous valvular disease

SUSPECTED ROBBERY OF CRAPE, SILK, &c.—On Tuesday the 23rd ult. two men named Frederick Sale and William Wilson, on company with a female named Mary Burns, who represented herself to be the wife of Wilson, went to the shop of Mr Binns, linen draper of the Glasgow House, Chapel-street, Salford, and offered for sale eight pieces of crape, each twelve yards long at 8d. per yard, the actual worth being about 1s. 7d. per yard; seven pieces of print, varying from nine to twelve yards in length each; twelve yards of black, and three yards of crimson silk; five bobbins of silk ribbon, and two boxes of black spun silk gloves. Mr. Binns informed the men that if they would leave them until the next day, and bring the invoice to show that the goods were theirs, he would purchase them; and this they agreed to do. They called again, however, on Wednesday night, and demanded either the money or the goods. Mr. Binns immediately went over the the police office, and gave information of the fact to inspector Taylor, who went over to the shop, but the parties had taken themselves off. On looking round he observed the woman standing not far from the shop, whom he took into custody, and succeeded afterwards in securing Sale. Wilson was not to be found.—The prisoners appeared before H.L. Trafford, Esq., at the Town Hall, on Friday week, and were remanded till last Monday to enable the officers of police, in the meantime, to find the owner of the property, when they were again brought up for further examination.—Inspector Taylor had ascertained that the prisoners had taken a house only a week before, in Dale-street, Salford, for the purpose, it was supposed, of taking in stolen property, as there was no furniture in any of the rooms, and only one bed, which was made upon the floor. As no owner was found, each of the prisoners was held to bail in two sureties of £10 each to appear, if called upon. Wilson has not since been heard of. The property is at present in the custody of the police, and is valued at about £15.

THE EFFECT OF MERCURY ON GOLD.—The effect of mercury on gold was exemplified in a strange manner on Thursday week, in Salford. A woman, named Ann Wilkinson, the wife of a mechanic at Patricroft, called at the shop of Mr. Binns, draper, Chapel-street, in order to make a purchase of some articles, and tendered in payment a half-sovereign, which she had carried in a box containing a small quantity of mercury. The coin appeared almost as white as silver, except in one small spot which was of the usual colour, and Mr. Binns declared it to be counterfeit. He had the woman apprehended, and in order to test what he supposed to be the baseness of the metal, he broke the coin into three pieces with his fingers, with the greatest ease. When the woman was taken before the magistrates on Friday morning, Mr. Ross pronounced the half-sovereign to be a good one, and was of opinion that the mercury had changed the colour of the coin, and rendered the metal brittle. The money was taken to a druggist's to be tested, and by the application of nitric acid the whole of the mercury was taken from the coin, which then assumed its original colour and hardness. The woman was, of course, immediately released. Five shillings which the woman carried in the same box were also made to appear, by the action of the mercury, like so many pieces of tin. [Mr. Binns should have indemnified the woman for her detention.] [NB The final sentence is in the text of the article, not a comment by me.]

BURGLARY BY SALFORD POLICEMAN.

This morning, at the Salford Police Court, before Sir J.I. Mantell and Alderman Leeming, a middle-aged man, named James Buckley, who has for 18 or 19 years past been a member of the Salford police force, was charged on remand with having broken and entered the shop of Mr. William Binns, Chapel-street, and stolen therefrom about fourteen pairs of stockings. It is supposed that the prisoner, who was generally on night duty, has been guilty of systematic robbery for a considerable time past. It is said that the police could, if necessary, prove no fewer than seven cases of housebreaking against him.

Thomas Roberts, assistant to Mr. William Binns, draper, 235, Chapel-street, said that on the 6th instant, when he opened the shop he missed ten pairs of stockings. Witness identified four other pairs of stockings, which had been stolen from the shop. They were placed in the doorway, but witness did not observe any marks on the shutters. They were not displaced at all. The stockings were worth about 20s. The shutters were fastened by an iron bar with bolt and screw in the usual way. The second lot of stockings were missed about a week after the first. Witness identified the goods by a private mark. The shutters were securely fastened on the night of the 5th and the 12th instant, and goods were missed from the doorway next morning.

Detective-sergeant Power said about 20 minutes past two o'clock on the morning of the 13th inst., he was on duty in Chapel-street, in company with Police-constable Wood, and saw Buckley go to the shop of Mr. Binns. He removed one of the shutters by straining the bar, put his arm through the aperture, take something out, and put it into his pocket. Prisoner then replaced the shutter and walked away. Witness crossed the street and took him into custody. Witness found four pairs of stockings in prisoner's coat pocket. On searching the prisoner's house, No. 7, Windsor-terrace, Windsor-bridge, witness found ten pairs of stockings in a box upstairs.

Police-constable Wood gave corroborative testimony, and said the he found upon the prisoner a long piece of wire, hooked at the end, which had evidently been used by the prisoner for a burglarious purpose.

Detective Superintendent Lawton said the police were prepared with two other cases of housebreaking against the prisoner, if the bench thought it necessary to hear them.

Sir J.I. Mantell: We think this will be sufficient.

Mr. Bennett, for the prisoner, said he could offer no defence to the charge, but he asked that the bench would deal with the case summarily. For two years the prisoner had been labouring under some "mental disease," and this might be an excuse for his conduct.

Sir J.I. Mantell said Mr. Bennett must know that this bench had no power to deal summarily with the prisoner. The charge was a very serious one, and the prisoner would be committed for trial at the assizes.

SALFORD BOROUGH POLICE-COURT.

ROBBERY BY A DOMESTIC SERVANT.

Ann Wallwork, an elderly woman, who for some years has been employed as domestic servant by Mr. William Binns, draper, 235, Chapel-street, Salford, was charged with stealing shawls and flannel of the value of £7 10s. from the shop of her employer. It appeared from the evidence that Mr. Binns occupies a private residence, and after business hours the prisoner was left in charge of the business premises and slept in the house. During the last six months she had systematically robbed the shop after Mr. Binns had left, and she pledged the goods with various pawnbrokers.—Mr. Binns said that the prisoner had a good home, and he had every confidence in her honesty.—The prisoner pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to three months' imprisonment with hard labour.

GOOD SHOP and DWELLING-HOUSE, 333, Chapel-street, Salford; very suitable for furniture broker. Apply to WILLIAM BINNS, 235, Chapel-street, Salford.