Dementia

"This woman, a widow, is a real old character. Has fractured her femur twice, is anaemic, but in addition complains of symptoms. Will not do what the doctor tells her, but spends days in bed. Lives alone. Clean house, she is well looked after by neighbours and daughter in law."

"Dr says this old lady is neurotic. She burned her leg with tea several years ago, below the knee; since then has complained of a pain clawing at her groin, tearing at her muscles, can't work. She has been seen by medical and surgical specialists - they can find nothing wrong. Is now on bromide and phenobarg, says she can't walk to the surgery. Lives alone, not very clean."

Relatives in survey: Cousin 28.17

"This woman is a frightful neurotic, palpitations, fear of dying. Will not go into hospital for treatment as she doesn't want to leave her husband. No children, comfortably off. Dr confirms that they are both neurotic, but most of the stories about them are false. A sister visited, daft, queer, tried to convert them to Christian Science. Nurse: she does too much in the house which makes her worse."

Relatives in survey: Husband 28.30

"Dr says that this man is neurotic like his wife, but he also has a coronary thrombosis. Got very worked lately, wanted his wife to have Christian Science treatment - Dr had to make her stop as it was so bad for him. Nurse confirms that they both have bad turns, very nervy."

Relatives in survey: Wife 28.29

"Had a goitre 20 years ago which was successfully treated with radium. Has been attending the surgery recently complaining of insomnia, tremor and palpitations, but no tremor of hands or tongue. Full of nerves, no sign of goitre. Lives alone, very clean. Husband died suddenly a year ago, she has been worse since then."

"Senile, very nearly off his head, simple and daft, complains of noises and dizziness. You have to speak to him very simply. Wanders the streets at all times of the day. Single, lives alone. A niece keeps an eye on him."

"This woman has nervous complaints which do not fit in - chiefly feeling light in the head and dizzy. Has a slight heart irregularity. She is convinced that her blood pressure is very high, which it isn't. Husband, dead, was a farm worker."

"Definitely senile, but has always been neurotic as well. Never away from doctors, has had ten. Always complaining of stomach and chest. Has had 10 or 11 of a family, of whom 6 are dead. Lives with an unmarried daughter. Husband was an agricultural worker."

"This woman is very asthmatic, thinks she is persecuted by the neighbours, has outbursts, says the Devil is at the door. Lives alone, brother died recently. Used to get a grant from the church funds, not now. Private income. House very clean. Dr confirms - was a frightful nuisance and came to every surgery."

"Has had a slight stroke, wanders back into her childhood. BP+++, irregular heart, life hanging by a thread. Asks the same questions over and over again, reiterates "I'm lazy". Maddening to live with. Cerebral anaemia? Completely off. Used to be a lady's maid. Husband a gardener, OK. No family."