Notes for Peter Divorty

Notes for Peter Divorty

Christened on 19 Sept. 1829 in Kintore

!"In Celebration of Inverurie" by Dr. G. Gill: "On Dr. Abel's death, Dr. Peter Divorty took over the practice. He had been brought up in Kintore and graduated MA & MD (Aber) and LRCS (Edin) in 1853. He chose the Army as his career, being an assistant surgeon to the 11th Foot Regiment. On leaving the Army, he practiced in Carlisle before returning to his native Garioch practicing from 52 Market Place. He died in the Aberdeen Lunatic Asylum in 1891 at the age of 62."
"His other practice in Inverurie began in 1884, with Dr. Alexander Nicol who came from Fyvie, was a pupil at Aberdeen Grammar School and studied at Aberdeen University, where he graduated MBCM in 1880. After being an assistant in Gamorgan and Lincoln, he took a higher degree of MD at Aberdeen, and came to Inverurie, possibly to assist Dr. Divorty."

!Roll of Commissioned Officers in the Medical Service of the British Army 1727 - 1898: 5177 Peter Divorty A.S. Staff, 18 Nov 1853; 11 F 12 Jan 1855; h.p. 11 Sept. 1860 Commuted h.p 8 Jun 1871 Born at Kintore, Aberdeenshire, 5 Sept. 1829. M.A. Maris. College Aberdeen 1851; M.B. 1853. Author of Poemata, Inverurie, 1884. Died in Aberdeen, 17 Nov. 1891.

!From A letter March 8, 2000 from Northern Health Services Archives to Fiona Thomson: Peter was admitted twice to Aberdeen Lunatic Asylum.
1) Admission number 173. Date of Admission: October 1, 1859; Pauper or Private Patient: Private; Age-30; Previous Occupation - Army Assistant Surgeon; Previous Abode - Aldershot Barracks; County/Parish Chargeable - N/A; By whose authority sent - George Divorty (father), Millwright, Kintore; Form of Mental Disorder - Melancholia; Supposed cause of insanity - Pecuniary Embarrassment; Age of 1st attack - 30; Result - Relieved; Date of Discharge/Death - April 19, 1864. ON DISCHARGE was sent to his father George at Kintore.
2) Admission number 4202. Date of Admission: October 17, 1885; Pauper or Private Patient: Pauper; Age-56; Previous Occupation - Physician; Previous Abode - ?; County/Parish Chargeable - Inverurie; By whose authority sent - George Divorty (brother), 168 Crown Street, Aberdeen; Form of Mental Disorder - Melancholia (suicidal); Supposed cause of insanity - Previous attack, financial difficulties; Age of 1st attack - 30; Result - Died; Date of Discharge/Death - November 17, 1891.

During his first stay Peter Divorty was a private patient, i.e. his annual board in the asylum would have been paid by his family or friends. There were several different levels of payment for private patients - the higher the payment, the better the accommodation. No records available for what level Peter Divorty was admitted at, however -
On March 30, 1864, according to the minutes of the asylum managers, the management committee "approved arrangement, explained by the Superintendent, that the board of Dr. Peter Divorty should be raised from 54 pounds 12 shillings to 70 pounds yearly." Also according to these minutes on 7 April 1864, the committee received a letter from Mr. Stronach, Jr. advocate "requesting on the part of the friends of Dr. Divorty, patient in the asylum, that the board of that gentleman should be raised to 120 pounds and that he should forthwith receive the privileges etc. to which said amount entitled boarders." This was agreed.
Divorty's "friends" (which in these circumstances can sometimes mean family) were obviously keen that he should have every comfort. It seems rather strange then that less than two weeks later Divorty leaves the asylum, particularly as he is said to have been removed by his friends contrary to advice.

!Northern Health Services Archives - GRHB 2\4\11 : Date of admission - 1 October 1859; Temperament - nervous; Hair - Dark Brown; Complexion - Pale; Stature - Tall
History of the Case - The brief account furnished of the patient is that he has been resident at Aldershot Barracks - that he has been insane as at present for five or six weeks - that he has not been ill before - that he has no hereditary disposition to disease of the mind - that no exciting caused is know but that pecuniary embarrassment is surmised.
The symptoms are much depression - emaciation - sleeplessness - disinclination to stir or to take food - and constant reiteration of such muttered phrases - as Oh! oh! oh! my God & seems to labor under the delusion that some dreadful destruction is about to occur to himself and his family with whom he has been living for some weeks - Has an aspect of dread.

!Northern Health Services Archives - GRHB 2\4\21 : Date of admission - 17 October 1885
History of the Case - Vide C.B. B.p270
Readmitted this day. The medical certificate states that he is in a low depressed condition - very slowly comprehending questions put to him and can scarcely be got to make any reply. The change from his carriage and condition is much marked.
17 November 1891. Died here this day from cystitis and pyo-nephrosis after an illness 11 days in bed.