Today “Sørensen” is the only thing he can say

My great-grandfather Painter Andreas Laurits Sørensen dies at Sct. Hans Hospital.

Sankt Hans is a psychiatric ward.

I have obtained his medical history:

“Andreas Laurits Sørensen, 57 years , b. 29/11-58. Admitted 4/11-16 from KH dept. VI 10/8-16 to about 22/8 and again from 19/10-16. Diagnosis: Dp . [which is dementia præsenilis or depression?]. Reprint. 5/1-1917. Has five adult children, three died as small .

Transferred from Dept. II, where he has laying 2 Days. He has been somewhat nonsensical, singing and vague and has not been able to provide positive Information. For approx. 2 years ago the memory weakening began, slightly dull, steady decline, in the last year unable to work. Not delusions. No Paresis, no Aphasia. No particular Faith in recent times. Illness now: Makes a damn demented [or stupid?] Impression. The speech is very vague, can not handle the simplest Test Words. Left Pupil does not respond to Light.

08/11: Kept to stand out of bed last night. Urinating on the floor.

22/8 The wife does not want Him nominated for Sct. Hans Hospital. Fools around. Very demented.

[Hereafter, there are a number of records of a medical nature that are not described an real treatment or other measures, but it is stated how many mg. of a drug given. I read the drug as Veronal, but not quite sure].

Re-admitted 19/10-16: Admitted again, as the Wife can no longer have him at home. Did not know the Home.

Transferred to Sct. Hans Hospital 4/11/1916:

7/11: Is calm and compliant. A single Walk on the Floor. Eats himself. Is clean. Makes a very demented Impression. Reveals no hallucinations. The speech is lousy. The previous days could say a few words, but today “Sørensen” is the only thing he can say – otherwise completely incomprehensible. Will not be examined, the eyes narrow energetically and pulls the sheet up over the head, so all examination must be abandoned.

9/11 Wandering aimlessly around on the floor.

2/1-1917 A couple of days Temperature increase and lethargy, but Seizures not found.

5/1-1917 Died tonight at 10 pm. after lying passively for the past 2 days, still with a rise in temperature.”

Source:
Copenhagen City Archives “Sankt Hans Hospital, Kurhuset’s archive 1860-1919, patient records, kurhuset – men”. Kurhuset 1917, volume 2, no. 7845