The Former Lakeshore Psychiatric Hospital Project

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The First Patient

The story of the first patient of the Mimico Branch Asylum is rather sad. He was a nameless 22-year-old single Canadian male. He was first admitted to an unknown asylum when he was only about twelve in April of 1878 and transferred to the Mimico Branch Asylum on January 23, 1890, from the Provincial Lunatic Asylum, located at 999 Queen Street West. Little is known of his background, except for the fact that he came from a family with a "bad history." He was also sunstroke and considered dangerous to others. Upon his admission to Mimico, Dr. Heggie described that the patient's reasoning was blunted, his memory appeared to be confused, and his temper "morose" (meaning that he was depressed). Dr. Moore, the first superintendent, certified that the patient came from a family, where insanity was hereditary. The patient also threatened suicide, had erotic dreams, and masturbated because of course the last two are especially sure signs of mental illness. At the end, the doctors noted that he was "gradually becoming more stupid."

In 1893, the patient's conditions seemed to get worse, since he was "diagnosed" with "becoming [even] more stupid." A year later, he was described as "failing gradually and afflicted with boils" (rage). In February of 1895, the doctor noted that the patients became untidy in dress and his mental health deteriorated even further. However, until the turn of the century, he was still in good physical health. One time, when he was working on the asylum's farm, while firing stones, his pants caught on fire. Thus, he was confided to bed with what appears to have been "very badly" swollen testicles.

The patient was transferred on April 29, 1901 to Hamilton, but no reason was given. We will never know who he really was.