Words From “The Asylum”

Case number: 222
Date of admission: February 14th 18…
Name: Emilie, last name unknown
Age and Sex: 16 years. Female
Married, Single or Widowed: Single
Has any family?: Unknown
Occupation: Hmm…
Habits of Life: .....That could mean anything
Religious persuasion: Church of England (assumed)
Brought by whom?: Madam Mornington, Headmistress, Asylum, FWVG
Form of Insanity: Melancholia Dementia
Supposed cause: Unknown, assumed, genetic weakness
Is hereditary?: Suspected
Is Suicidal?: Yes
Is dangerous to others?: Yes
Is destructive to property?: Yes
State of bodily health?: Hmm….Ill
Marks of violence, if any: Cuts and bruises (Self-inflicted, of course)
Facts specified in medical certificate, upon which opinion of insanity founded:
1. Facts indicating insanity observed by medical man
Claims to hear voices at night
Prone to bouts of melancholia, interspersed with brief periods of excitement
Such as to interrupt the peace of the household
2: Other facts indicating insanity, communicated to him by others
General raving
Has made numerous accusations against her guardian
Which, as he is a respected personage
Are clearly the ravings of a fevered mind
Has violently attacked her guardian
Causing serious injury
Has conspired with the housemaid to ruin household property
And attempted to steal items
Namely, a stone Cherub and an ironwork Candelabra
Attempted suicide by drowning (How original)
Walking the City of London in insufficient and inappropriate clothing
Stealing goods from local merchants
Intent to prostitute
Order signed by…

“Now child, I abhor a fuss
And I dislike noise in general
So, I demand your co-operation, and am, as you can see
Prepared to extract it from you willingly or…
Otherwise
Do you intend to come quietly, or not?”

“Madam” said I, “I come as quietly as the dead”

“Brilliant, brilliant, only the light restraints then, gentlemen”

Roughly was I led out to the waiting coach by my leash
And all I could think was, “and these are the light restraints?”

(who are you?)
“I am your captain”
(What is this?)
(hello!)
“Awareness is the enemy of sanity
For once, you hear the screaming
It never stops”