Alphonsine MERTZIG
This is a very sad tale.
Alphonsine Annette Mertzig was born in Paris, in the 19th Arrondissement, on 29 March 1870. Her parents were Francois Mertzig, a Belgian day labourer (journalier), and his wife Genevieve Jolivet.
We do not know when she came to England. She does not appear in the 1901 census, so we assume that she arrived after March 1901. We do know that she was working as a domestic servant at 31 Redcliffe Road (off Fulham Road) in London in June 1904, when she exhibited signs of mental illness.
At the Kensington infirmary, Alphonsine was found to be of unsound mind and she was ordered to be admitted to the Manor asylum on 10 June.
Her case notes reveal that she was suffering from acute melancholia as a result of a shock, and possible hereditary causes. She was also physically quite poorly, with a weak heart and a painful swollen abdomen.
“She will not speak a word and opposes any effort to rouse her and appears to have no knowledge of her surroundings.”
Ellen Grew (?), 72 Sydney Street. Street said “I know Alphonsine Mertzig: she is very strange in her mind, she refuses her food and (says) that the doctor wants to poison her and so she will not take his medicine.”
Louisa Ward, lunatic attendant. said “This patient refuses food and when she speaks she talks nonsense and says that she is going to be killed.”
“History: 1st attack commenced when she went to visit a friend and found her dead. Grandfather died insane. Parents both drunkards. Brother died of meningitis.”
On 27 June, just 17 days after her admission to the Manor asylum, Alphonsine died. Causes of death were organic brain disease and fatty degeneration of the heart. The certifying doctor noted some bruising to the arms from being restrained during artificial feeding.
During her short time in the asylum, Alphonsine had received several visits from two friends, a Mrs Grove and a Mr Aime Christophie, both of whom visited once again on 28 June. They requested that the asylum carry out the funeral.
Alphonsine was buried at Horton on 1 July 1904.
We have not been able to identify Mrs Grove (who presumably is the Ellen “Grew” of the same address in the case notes). We think the male visitor was probably Aimé Eugène Christophe who was born in Paris in 1867 and died in London in 1930.