![]() Hannah’s mental state, however, was evidently viewed as a cause for concern and, having been unwell for the previous six months, it appears that an attempt to strangle herself with a rope was the principal reason for her admission. The wording of the notes suggests that this was one amongst many symptoms Hannah was troubled by, and the term ‘supposed ailments’ leads us to conclude that the physical symptoms she complained of were neither obvious nor considered to be serious, despite reported signs of lung disease. Hannah’s religious interpretation of the discomfort she was experiencing suggests symptoms of ‘dry-mouth syndrome’, a condition that can arise for a number of medical reasons, including a fall in oestrogen levels during menopause. The case notes describe Hannah as ‘very restless and miserable constantly talking about her supposed ailments’, noting that she ‘says the Lord has taken away all her saliva’. ![]() In November 1893 Hannah, a fifty year-old housewife from Leek, was admitted to the Stafford Asylum. ![]()
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