Conolly Norman
Encyclopedia
Conolly Norman was an Irish
alienist, or psychiatrist
, of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. He was the Resident Medical Superintendent of a number of district asylums, most notably Ireland
’s largest asylum, the Richmond District Lunatic Asylum, now known as St. Brendan's Hospital
.
, Ireland. The fifth child of six boys, his father, Hugh Norman, was the rector of All Saints' and later of Barnhill
. His family were prominent and politically active in Derry
with several members serving as mayor of Derry. Two members of his family were also elected to parliament.
, the Carmichael Medical School, and the Richmond Surgical Hospital, gaining a M.D.. In 1874 he became a licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians
and Surgeons, a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1878 and a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in 1890.
in London where he worked under the prominent English alienist Sir George Savage. Returning to Ireland in 1882 he was appointed the Resident Medical Superintendent of Castlebar District Lunatic Asylum in Co. Mayo
. He remained there until 1885 when he was appointed Resident Medical Superintendent of the Monaghan Asylum. In 1886 he was appointed by the Lord Lieutenant
as Resident Medical Superintendent to Ireland's largest asylum, the Richmond District Lunatic Asylum. He would remain in this last post until his death in 1908 at the age of fifty-five.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
alienist, or psychiatrist
Psychiatrist
A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. All psychiatrists are trained in diagnostic evaluation and in psychotherapy...
, of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. He was the Resident Medical Superintendent of a number of district asylums, most notably Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
’s largest asylum, the Richmond District Lunatic Asylum, now known as St. Brendan's Hospital
St. Brendan's Hospital (Grangegorman)
St. Brendan's Hospital is a psychiatric facility located in the north Dublin suburb of Grangegorman. It forms part of the HSE mental health services of Dublin North East. Its catchment area is North West Dublin...
.
Early life
Norman was born on 12 March 1853 at All Saints' Glebe, Newtown Cunningham, County DonegalCounty Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland. The fifth child of six boys, his father, Hugh Norman, was the rector of All Saints' and later of Barnhill
Barnhill
Barnhill may refer to:* Barnhill, Cheshire, England* Barnhill, County Fermanagh, a townland in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland* Barnhill, Dundee, Scotland* Barnhill, Jura, Scotland, a farmhouse on Jura, Scotland, used by George Orwell...
. His family were prominent and politically active in Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
with several members serving as mayor of Derry. Two members of his family were also elected to parliament.
Medical Education
Educated at home due to his fragile health as a child, at the age of seventeen Norman began his medical studies at Trinity College, DublinTrinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
, the Carmichael Medical School, and the Richmond Surgical Hospital, gaining a M.D.. In 1874 he became a licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians
Royal College of Physicians
The Royal College of Physicians of London was founded in 1518 as the College of Physicians by royal charter of King Henry VIII in 1518 - the first medical institution in England to receive a royal charter...
and Surgeons, a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1878 and a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in 1890.
Early career
After he graduated in 1874, Norman immediately took up a post as an assistant medical officer in the Monaghan District Lunatic Asylum. He remained in that post until 1880 when he joined the staff of the Bethlem Royal HospitalBethlem Royal Hospital
The Bethlem Royal Hospital is a psychiatric hospital located in London, United Kingdom and part of the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. Although no longer based at its original location, it is recognised as the world's first and oldest institution to specialise in mental illnesses....
in London where he worked under the prominent English alienist Sir George Savage. Returning to Ireland in 1882 he was appointed the Resident Medical Superintendent of Castlebar District Lunatic Asylum in Co. Mayo
County Mayo
County Mayo is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Mayo, which is now generally known as Mayo Abbey. Mayo County Council is the local authority for the county. The population of the county is 130,552...
. He remained there until 1885 when he was appointed Resident Medical Superintendent of the Monaghan Asylum. In 1886 he was appointed by the Lord Lieutenant
Lord Lieutenant
The title Lord Lieutenant is given to the British monarch's personal representatives in the United Kingdom, usually in a county or similar circumscription, with varying tasks throughout history. Usually a retired local notable, senior military officer, peer or business person is given the post...
as Resident Medical Superintendent to Ireland's largest asylum, the Richmond District Lunatic Asylum. He would remain in this last post until his death in 1908 at the age of fifty-five.
Richmond District Lunatic Asylum
While the Richmond asylum prior to Norman's arrival has been described as primitive and prisonlike this is perhaps to overlook the international praise that his predecessor, John Lalor had received, particularly in regard to his educational initiatives in establishing a national school for the patients in the grounds of the hospital. In any case, by 1904, Connolly could assert like a growing number of reforming alienists, that Emil Kraepelin's dementia praecox (a concept intimately linked with schizophrenia) was not incurable.Publications
- (1885). ‘On Insanity Alternating with Spasmodic Asthma’. Journal of Mental Science. 31: 1-12.
- (1886). 'Some Points in Irish Lunacy Law'. Journal of Mental Science. 31: 459-67.
- (1886). 'Two Cases of Larvated Insanity'. Journal of Mental Science. 32: 36-44.
- (1887). 'Cases Illustrating the Sedative Effects of Aceto-phenone (hypnone)'. Journal of Mental Science. 32: 519-25.
- (1887). 'Variations in form of mental affections in relation to the classification of insanity'. The Dublin Journal of Medical Science. 83: 228-35.
- (1888). 'A Rare Form of Mental Disease (Grübelsucht)'. Journal of Mental Science. 34: 400-08.
- (1889). 'On Sulphonal'. The Dublin Journal of Medical Science. 87: 19-27.
- (1890). 'Acute confusional insanity'. The Dublin Journal of Medical Science. 89: 506-18.
- (1890). 'Case of Intracranial Tumour'. Journal of Mental Science. 36: 361-67.
- (1892). 'A Note on Cocainism'. Journal of Mental Science. 38: 195-99.
- (1894). 'Presidential Address (Medico-Psychological Association), delivered at the Royal College of Physicians, Dublin, June 12, 1894'. Journal of Mental Science. 40: 487-99.
- (1894). 'A Case of Porencephaly'. Journal of Mental Science 40: 649-65.
- (1896). 'The domestic treatment of the insane'. The Dublin Journal of Medical Science. 101: 111-21.
- (1899). 'Considerations on the Mental State in Aphasia'. Journal of Mental Science.45: 326-37.
- (1899). 'A Brief Note on Beri-beri in Asylums'. Journal of Mental Science. 45: 503-12.
- (1899). 'Emphysema of the Subcutaneous Areolar Tissue Occurring in a Case of Acute Mania'. Journal of Mental Science. 45: 749-58.
- (1899). 'Reports on the Progress of Neurology and Psychiatry'. The Dublin Journal of Medical Science. 107: 209-21.
- (1900). 'The Clinical Features of Beri-Beri'. The Dublin Journal of Medical Science. 109(337): 1-16.
- (1900). 'Remarks on Senile Demenita'. The Dublin Journal of Medical Science. 110(346): 250-265.
- (1902). 'Notes on Hallucinations. I'. Journal of Mental Science. 48: 45-53.
- (1903). 'Notes on Hallucinations. II'. Journal of Mental Science. 49: 272-91.
- (1903). 'Notes on Hallucinations. III'. Journal of Mental Science. 49: 454-73.
- (1904). 'Gossip about Gheel'. Journal of Mental Science. 50: 53-64.
- (1904). 'Dementia Praecox'. The British Medical Journal. 2(2285): 972-76.
- (1904). 'On the Need for Family Care of Persons of Unsound Mind in Ireland'. Journal of Mental Science. 50: 461-73.
- (1905). 'Modern Witchcraft: a Study of a Phase of Paranoia'. Journal of Mental Science. (1905) 51: 116-25.
- (1905). 'The Family Care of the Insane'. Medical Press and Circular. 29 November - 6 December.
- (1906). 'Multiple Lipomata in General Paralysis'. Journal of Mental Science. 52: 62-9.