Dr. Nicholas Langley was the first recorded “psychiatric” patient in Western Australia. His story provides an insight into the difficulty experienced in managing cases of violent behaviour in a small, isolated group without facilities or expertise. Langley recovered from his symptoms, and was accepted into the local community without undue stigma. He practised as a surgeon in Fremantle, and died at the age of 35, from what was apparently a cerebrovascular accident.
References
1.
“C.S.O.”, “C.S.F.”, and “C.S.R.” all refer to records of the Colonial Secretary's Office, Western Australia, held at the W.A. Historical Library (“Battye Library”) Perth, W.A.
2.
Battye Library, Perth, Research Note 114.
3.
CohenB. C. (1965). History of Medicine in Western AustraliaBrokensha, Perth.
4.
C.S.O. 1 8/82 13 August 1830.
5.
ibid. 2 8/59 10 September 1830.
6.
ibid 3 18/63 13 October 1830.
7.
C.S.F. 4 No. 1194, Vol. 3, 19 October 1830.
8.
ibid 5 18/110 25 October 1830.
9.
C.S.R. 6 12/40 2 February 1831.
10.
C.S.O. 7 18/141 4 November 1830.
11.
C.S.F. 8 No. 1194 Vol 3B 10 November 1830.
12.
C.S.R. 9 C.S.O. Letters 9 May 1831.
13.
ibid 10 ibid 3 September 1831.
14.
C.S.F. 11 ibid 9 September 1831.
15.
, diary, 1830: in Journal of the Royal Western Australian Historical SocietyVol 1. Part X 1931.
