Page 76 - Vol. VI #8

david WHeLdon
I’ve written about Barrow hospital hospital hospital before I I I won’t recap except to to say that it it it it it it was was a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a mental hospital hospital designed in in in the the the the 1930’s on
on
on
a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a system
of of of of detached villas in in in in pleasant open woodland beyond the the the the the the south-western outskirts of of of of Bristol The The idea was was was quite enlightened for its its time I I studied psychiatry there in in in in in in in in the the the the the the the the early seventies one of of of of of a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a group of of of of of six clinical students Even then the the the the the the the the the hospital hospital was was entering its its decline The The intro- duction of of of of chlorpromazine and and other antipsy- chotics reduced the the the the the the the the the the need for long-term hospital- ization A little later came the the the the the the the the benzodiazepines Unsatisfactory though these drugs often were were they replaced worse and and and and and frankly dangerous treat- ments such as insulin coma therapy and and and and psycho- surgery Padded cells and and and and strait jackets were were superseded by pharmaceuticals Barrow hospital is is now closed Having lain abandoned for years its buildings have all been demolished Few mourn the the the fact Well that’s the the the the the prodrome over The Admiral Intercedes
We—six twenty-one year olds—were standing in in in in in in the the the the the the foyer of Dundry Villa at at at at half-past eight one one quiet morning morning when the the the the the the ambulance arrived at at at at the the the the the the front door The The morning’s peace was shat- tered We We could hear some muffled bawling and and shouting within the the the the the vehicle heavy objects were being thrown about I recognised the the the the the clang of a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a gas cylinder The The The ambulance came to to to an an an an an unsteady stop For a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a few moments it it it it rocked from side side to to to to side side as as as as as though some powerful person person or or or persons were were struggling within it it it Then the the the the the the rear doors were were opened and and there was was a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a sudden noisy confusion We students retreated into into the the the the the fast- ness of Dundry Villa and and and and watched A man was was was was being brought into into the the the the the the building He He He dwarfed the the the the the the two men who attempted to to to to restrain him He He He was was was was elderly but tall and and and and unbowed his his physique was was was lean and and and and powerful He He He He wore a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a short-sleeved shirt and and and the the the the veins stood out on
on
his his muscular forearms as as as he he he he considered the the room in in in which he he he he now found himself His shoulders were broad He He had a a a a a a a a a a a a a shock
of of paraldehyde shattered The The The unforgettable and and and and penetrating smell of of the the the the the the drug filled
the the the the the the air 67
of of white white white hair and and the white white white beard of of a a a a a a a a a a a a a a William Blake deity What was to to happen next? Well let me tell you A slight male male registrar registrar in in in a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a white white white coat (and flanked on
on
on
each side by a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a burly male male nurse in in in in in uniform) walked up to to to the the patient patient This This registrar registrar carried in in in in in in his his his his two hands a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a glass syringe of of paral- dehyde (This procession had had for for some reason a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a quasi-liturgical style )
)
His intent intent was to to subdue subdue the the patient patient patient with with this chemical The patient patient demurred He He had had no intention of of of being subdued: by his his his his his attitude he he he he he he he he he made made it it it it it clear that he he he he he he he he he wouldn’t go along with with with the the the the intended scheme of of things He He He stood before the the the the registrar his his his his his his stance pugilistic his his his his his his hands made made into capable fists His left left foot and and and and left left hand hand hand were to to to to the the the fore fore He He He He moved on
on
his his his his his his his feet with with some agility This man knew how to to to to fight Then suddenly he he he he he he he he he he relentingly changed his his his his his his his his mind He He He laughed scornfully He He He unfisted his his his his his his hands paused quit his his his his his his boxer’s stance and and and and gently but firmly pushed the the the the cowering regis- trar trar in in in in in in the the the the the face with an an an an an an an an open palm The The The The registrar lost his his his his his balance and and and and fell over The The The glass syringe We found out later that the the the the the the patient had had been sent to to the the the the the the hospital under section by Dr Chisholm a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a local psychiatrist though we never learned the the the the the the circumstances which had had had initiated this proce- dure The man seemed sane enough to to to us: he he he he he he he could easily have beaten up the the the the registrar causing him him real injury but had had had had instead elected to to push him him over with the the the flat of of his his hand In a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a way that that had had had been very thoughtful—considerate even The patient possessed a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a civilized mind He had had had humanity and and and insight I I I I know know know that that that I I I I wouldn’t have appreciated the the approach of of an an an an an an an unknown unknown man man in in in in in a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a white coat holding a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a syringe and and needle filled
with an an an unknown fluid I’ve said elsewhere that that medical procedures at at at at at