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Although she recalled the last days there and some ideas and events at the Observation Pavilion, the memory of the journey to Ward’s Island was vague, as was that of entrance to the ward, and she claimed not to have known where she was for quite a while.
When asked how she came to Ward’s Island, she said “By ambulance.” The physical condition presented nothing of note, except for a certain sluggishness of the skin with marked comedones. By January, 1914, the picture changed somewhat and she then presented the following state for an entire year: The mutism persisted and indeed became even more absolute, and she began to wet and soil constantly.
She would give most of her answers with a questioning inflection, “This is the Manhattan State Hospital, isn’t it?” or she would say, “I don’t know exactly where I am, it’s Ward’s Island, isn’t it?” and in the same way she gave the day, date and year correctly. But she did not know the names of the physicians.
At a later interview, during the same period, she knew the doctor’s name, knew she had seen him at Ward’s Island, knew she was in a hospital, but somehow could not connect the present place with Ward’s Island. We have seen above that she once spoke of not having been a good woman. On February 25 there was a sudden change. She laughed when a funny remark was made on the ward.
Before she was quite well she knew of her entrance to the Observation Pavilion and her transfer to Ward’s Island, of which she could give some details, but thought she had been in the Observation Pavilion two weeks instead of three days and in the admission ward one month instead of a few hours.
Although, as was stated, she said at one time, “This is the same Ward’s Island,” usually questions regarding orientation were not answered, as she gave few relevant replies, but she repeatedly said spontaneously that she was in “Hoboken or Bellevue,” and called the nurse by the name of a former teacher. A few days after this state had developed she had a fever.
She wrote her name promptly on one occasion, again a sentence slowly but without mistakes. Once during the period she sang at night. Once she suddenly ran down the hall but quickly lapsed into the dull condition. On April 4, at the end of this period, she suddenly laughed, again ran down the hall, said she had done nothing to be kept on Ward’s Island.
Once when asked what the place was she said, “This is the hereafter.” When asked what had happened at home, she said: “Voices told me I was to be killed.” She was not clearly oriented, called the place Bellevue, asked “Isn’t this a hospital?” yet again said, “Ward’s Island, where they work.” On the day of admission she thought she came “the day before,” but knew she had come in a boat.
Even toward the end of her marked stupor some replies were obtained chiefly by making her write. When asked to write Manhattan State Hospital, she wrote Manhatt Hhospshosh, and for Ward’s Island, Ww. Iland. Again, instead of writing 90th Street, she wrote 90theath Street. These are plainly reactions of the path of least resistance or, in these instances, of perseveration.
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