The Narrator- Haslam and Hallaran

Fast forward 100 years and our patient, the Narrator, is being treated by John Haslam and Dr. William Saunders Hallaran…

Haslam enters the room in which the Narrator is staying. Before introducing himself he gives the room a quick glance noticing her temporary lifestyle. He sees scratches in wallpaper similar to the pattern of fingernails. Haslam introduces himself to the patient and begins to ask her question about her current state. He asks about her lifestyle, marriage, children, sickness? She responds that she is happily married, has one child, and isn’t sick. The questions continue, Halsam asks what are her thoughts about her current living situation. The Narrator responds with, “there are many things in that paper that nobody knows but me, or ever will… it is like a woman stooping down and creeping about behind that pattern. I don’t like it a bit.” Her false perceptions and confusion of ideas would lead Haslam to believe she is mentally ill. He turns to the patient’s husband and explains that her current mental state could be due to an imbalance of bodily fluids after giving birth to their young child. Haslam orders the patient to be kept alone in a dark, quiet room where she cannot be exposed to stimuli such as this wallpaper. If problems persist he would like to start her on a bleeding regimen where should would eventually emerge cleansed and mentally healthy. The Narrator’s husband will not have any of this! He believes there is a better solution, so he has another mad expert, Dr. Hallaran, visit his wife. The doctor does not enter the room upon arrival. Rather he waits outside the room, observing from the window. He notices the Narrator’s hyperactivity as she paces back and forth following the patterns on the walls. Upon the entrance of Dr. Hallaran she continues until he asks her to stop and return to her bed. Just as Haslam did, he asks about her lifestyle and habits. Unlike Haslam he persistently asks about her drug and alcohol use. The Narrator says, “John [my husband] says I musn’t lose my strength, and has me take cod liver oil and lots of tonics and things…ale and wine and rare meat.” Hallaran pauses, “wine, you say?” He jots down a note on his pad. Before the end of the visit Hallaran recommends venesection to remove the alcohol from her body. 

AH