Citation

Benedict WL. J. Am. Med. Assoc. 1935; 104(5): e395.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1935, American Medical Association)

DOI

10.1001/jama.1935.92760050003010a

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

A married woman, aged 55, a patient at the Rochester State Hospital, had made several attempts at suicide during depressive phases of a manic depressive psychosis. On April 1, 1934, she attempted to commit suicide by thrusting a number 12 crochet needle from the right temporal region through both orbits (fig. 1).The sharp point of the hook entered the right temple and was pushed through the left orbit until the point struck the left temporal orbital wall. She could not push the hook farther with her hand. She removed her slipper and, using the heel as a hammer, drove the hook farther into her head until the handle was entirely buried under the skin on the right temporal side. When she was discovered a few minutes later, blood was oozing from her nose and the conjunctiva of both eyes was edematous. Her vision, however, was apparently not impaired.