My sister Carol and I have had many discussions on Gramma’s mental illness. It is puzzling to us. It makes no sense to us that one person in a family, randomly, out of no where, has a mental illness that incapacitates them so severely that they’re admitted to an insane asylum, never to be released and basically never to be heard from again. Florence was admitted on a WARRANT! That means a judge’s signature was required. What happened?
[Note: March 7, 2023 – I emailed Ontario Archives to asked where I might be able to access this warrant.]
Manic Depressive Psychosis; Manic
That is the diagnosis given in the documentation from St. Thomas Mental Hospital. If Gramma’s was Bipolar (Manic Depressive), then likely this would have shown up in other members of the family. While there’s a little depression in all of us, nothing has revealed itself to the tragic effects that my grandmother suffered.
Also, bipolarism doesn’t just start at age 23 or 24. If this indeed was her true disease, she would have been showing symptoms for years. Although, it could be the explanation for the quick job and city changes that happened in her life leading up to her marriage. And the marriage itself seems like a quick and rash decision. Imagine an English woman meets an Estonian man who can barely speak English. They have a whirlwind romance? And get married a few months later. Why so quick? What was the rush? This could be a symptom of bipolarism. Or was there a real reason for the rush?
Extenuating Circumstances
As I’ve said in other postings on the website, I am convinced that my grandmother left a daughter behind in London (Phyllis Vera Peters). And I believe she immigrated to Canada with the hope of finding a job and husband, then bringing Phyllis over to Canada. But something happened that put an end to this plan. Gramma’s mental state deteriorated quickly. What happened?
Grampa’s Army Medical Logs
I remember reading (many years ago) about a 18th century village, in Europe I think, where most of the residents were being diagnosed with mental illnesses and its was eventually discovered that the grain they were buying to make flour was moldy. I wondered in my mind if Gramma had somehow began ingesting something that caused her to deteriorate.
Seemingly unrelated, we got our hands on Grampa’s detailed army records. It was somewhat surprizing that Grampa’s army medical logs included his repeated bouts with syphilis. In fact he was treated THREE times for syphilis and gonorrhea. Although there is no cure for syphilis, the remedy at the time was mercury. Once syphilis is in your body, you have it. And it can go latent for years, then pop up again.
More Extenuating Circumstances
So now I’m thinking, what if Grampa’s syphilis recurred after the birth of their three children. Unknowingly, he passes this onto Gramma. They are in Endicott and Grampa is working for the best company, the Endicott Tannery and Shoe Company. He’s been trying very hard to get his Naturalization Papers finalized and then…. his application expires and he suddenly pulls his whole family back to Canada. Is it possible that because he “knew” how to treat the syphilis, that he acquired mercury and BOTH Gramma and Grampa were medicating themselves? Mercury poisoning can make you crazy and would have likely contributed to terrible rows between them.
A Miscarriage Perhaps?
Aunt Jean once revealed that she strongly believed that her mother had had a miscarriage and that had lead to severe post-partum depression.
Mercury poisoning causes miscarriages.
Is it possible that because Florence was a British Subject and Phyllis was a British Subject, it was much easier to bring Phyllis to Canada, than to the USA? Phyllis was born in 1914, so in 1928, Phyllis was 14. Age of majority in England at that time was 21.
Is it possible that Grampa, medicating himself with mercury, began to unravel? After all, if a small amount works well, more will work better. Perhaps there were heated arguments about Phyllis joining the family and how Grampa couldn’t afford another mouth to feed.
When Gramma was admitted to hospital in Toronto, Grampa would likely NOT have divulged that they had syphilis and had been taking mercury. So Gramma’s now in the hospital, and doctors have no idea that she’s suffering from mercury poisoning OR … Grampa did tell the doctors, and they continue to treat her with mercury.
If Grampa continued to medicate himself with mercury, perhaps its the mercury poisoning that contributed to his decision to begin sleeping with the domestic that social services brought into his home to look after his three small children. Then of course, Mary Morrison, needed a home for herself and her two children. She likely did everything she could to keep herself in Grampa’s home.