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The madness of Dyce Sombre
1Department of Psychiatry, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA. haldipuc@upstate.edu
Abstract:
Dyce Sombre was an Indian prince who lost his kingdom but inherited a vast fortune. He arrived in England and became a member of the Parliament. His wife's family had him declared as a lunatic. He escaped to France and tried unsuccessfully to be declared sane again. He was examined by several well-known 19th century psychiatrists, many of whom declared him sane. Dyce Sombre's trial was reported in medical journals as well as newspapers. He wrote a book questioning his certification as a lunatic. Sombre's trials reveal several issues concerning diagnosing individuals from different cultures and have contemporary relevance in our multicultural societies.
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