A Sketch of the Life of Elizabeth T. Stone and of Her Persecutions: With an Appendix of Her Treatment and Sufferings While in the Charlestown McLean Assylum, Where She Was Confined Under the Pretence of InsanityStone, Elizabeth T.
Religion
A Sketch of the Life of Elizabeth T. Stone and of Her Persecutions: With an Appendix of Her Treatment and Sufferings While in the Charlestown McLean Assylum, Where She Was Confined Under the Pretence of Insanity
Stone, Elizabeth T.
McLean Hospital; Mental illness -- Personal narratives; Stone, Elizabeth T., 1811-
situation, deceived into that house in such an unlawful manner, even if
I had been deranged. I had property, and I ought to have had a guardian
appointed, and kind steps taken with me. But to return to my subject:
a table was spread, and a party, the Doctor being one of the number,
sat down to play cards. The most unqualified language came out of their
mouths. I could hear the groans of the distressed all around me, some
weeping to see their friends, some for one thing, and some for another;
and I in the most awful distress, without one kind friend to speak to
me; an involuntary groan came with my breath. Again the medicine was
brought to me; I told the attendant it was destroying me, hardening my
brain, and taking the spirit of Christ from me; she said I must take
it. I did not know what to do, I could not help myself; to resist I
knew would not do, and yet having partly the spirit of Christ, which
is non-resistant, I took it, which increased my distress. I was again
locked into my room and left to weep and roll in my bed all knight,
thinking of my dear friends, _not relations_.--But oh, they would not
have dared to have done the crime out of that house, under the pretence
of insanity, to screen my wicked relations, that have been incensed
against me ever since I met with a change of heart. Sunday morning
came, and thus, in one short week, was I brought to my sad fate, for
the want of a kind christian friend to step in between me and my cruel
persecutors, and wicked tyranical relations. This day passed away; the
medicine was brought me to take twice a day, pills and a little mug
of mixture; what it was I do not know, but I think I could tell the
different kinds that I took if I could see them. Monday, 29th, passed
away without any one coming to see me. Tuesday came, and I again asked
the privilege of writing, which was granted. I wrote to my brother S.
asked him to come and see me immediately, as he promised. The Doctor
said he would send it, but the day passed away without any one coming.
My distress became more violent. I told the Doctors they were taking
from me my eternal happiness, by taking from me the spirit of Christ.
I was informed by one of the patients that they did not send the
letters they gave me liberty to write. I conversed with Dr. Fox about
my situation, and of the knowledge of this medicine, and why the world
did not know it. He said that my brother knew all about it before I
was brought there, and what I had got to suffer, and what my situation
would be. Reader, can you imagine what my sufferings were? No, you
cannot. If you had witnessed them you might have then conceived of my
dreadful agony. Telling of my distress and lost condition, I was mocked
and ridiculed. This week passed away.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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