Curious cases from the past

At the time Dundee Lunatic Asylum was first built, society faced many of the problems associated with mental health that it does today, such as anxiety, grief, doubt and depression.

However, treatment and diagnosis was a far cry from what is on offer in the 21st Century.

People from all walks of life passed through the doors of the asylum, each with their reasons for admission.

According to Dark Dundee walking tours, many cases were curiously classed as “cured” after short periods, even those displaying murderous intent.

A 49-year-old man, admitted in the 1840s, expressed intense desires to cut the throats of his wife and children, with no real explanation.

He was deemed cured and released back to his family within three months.

Others were likely suffering from severe grief.

One recently widowed 37-year-old woman repeatedly spoke of her upcoming wedding “next Monday”.

She died two years later of “general paresis” – a neurological condition often brought on by syphilis.

It was a common complaint among patients at the time and led to psychotic symptoms such as delusions, nihilism and anarchism.