Hi I trained as a nurse at Cherry Knowle between 1978 and 1981 and there were still patients there diagnosed with GPI. At that time the daily routine in the hospital for the short term patients in the Willows was to go to the OT unit where they could try various craft activities or just socialise. They returned to the ward for lunch and went back to the OT unit for the afternoon. On an evening there were films shown in the hall or other recreational activities such as Bingo. The hospital had a swimming pool as well, and patients could go there during the day. There was a small cafe on the corner where they could go for a coffee. We used to take some of the long term patients for walks down to the beach at Ryhope. Some of the long term patients were also allowed to make their own way down to the local shops. Many of the staff, I worked with said that when they retired they were going to book themselves into the hospital, so they could enjoy three meals a day and all the social activities! It was a nice place to be. Susan ----- Original Message ----- From: "Marie Kerr" <[email protected]> To: "ENG-DUR-SUNDERLAND-L" <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, September 16, 2007 1:19 AM Subject: Re: [ENG-DUR-SUNDERLAND] Sunderland Borough Asylum (Ryhope) & TheLonnen > Sans St or Villiers St - both of which were side streets off High St > East - > were situated in the East End not Hendon. > As Stan has already pointed out General Paralysis of the Insane or > Dementia > Paralytica was one of the results of syphilis in its tertiary stage > affecting the higher centres of the brain & the pyramidal motor > tracts.Signs > & symptoms include : > progressive dementia - sometimes with delusions of grandeur > progressive paralysis of both legs > fits are common > very marked fine tremor of lips & tongue > Argyll Robertson pupils (present in all neuro-syphilitic diseases) with > unequal, very small & irregularly outlined pupils which fail to contract > to > light. > Patients with GPI often also have another form of neuro-syphilis: Tabes > Dorsalis characterised by deformed but painless swollen joints and a > distinctive ataxic gait where the patient walks with feet wide apart with > marked stamping of the feet. > If your ancestor had ataxia it might have well have resulted in a fall > which led to his diagnosis as these patients do tend to fall about > especially when the eyes are closed or they are in a dark environment. > There were still patients with this dreadful disease in the 60s when I > nursed at Cherry Knowle - the Mental Hospital in Ryhope - and at least one > lady in > her late fifties was newly diagnosed at this time. > Hope this "fleshes out" the diagnosis for you, Rob. > Regards > Marie > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "ROB SHEPHERD" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Saturday, September 15, 2007 9:34 PM > Subject: [ENG-DUR-SUNDERLAND] Sunderland Borough Asylum (Ryhope) & The > Lonnen > > >> My great-grandfather George McIntyre died at the Sunderland Borough >> Asylum >> in Ryhope in 1912; his death certificate recorded "general paralysis over >> one year" and family legend would have it that he fell down a lift shaft >> whilst working for the Sunderland Gas Company at Ayre's Quay. I thought > the >> asylum was only for mentally ill patients. Did they take other patients > such >> as those paralysed, or should I be led to believe that his injuries > affected >> him mentally and this was the reason he was there? >> >> Also, does anyone know where "The Lonnen" was in Hendon. My grandmother >> recalls that she and her sister used to walk from Grangetown through "the >> Lonnen" to Hendon (the Sans Street and Villiers Street area) and recalls > it >> was a rough dirt track but can't remember exactly where it was? Any ideas >> anyone? >> >> Thanks >> >> Rob