Perhaps her lane got too long or the black box of controls got lost. Dementia as a word has the feminine ending a , as does hysteria. The latter is derived from the word womb because Aristotle observed that women, mostly, seemed to have uncontrollable outbursts of emotion or fear. Actually, more women have dementia because they survive longer. It is a progressive, long-term condition.
Hysteria is also irrational, but it is short-term.
Its victims seem unable to inhibit wild emotional swings from laughter to crying. Girls at Long Lane seemed crazy at times, but their outbursts often involved calculation and manipulation. When newcomers evidenced hysteria, they were not put in solitary locked rooms so they could vent anger and outrage without hurting themselves or others. Later they formed new relationships and became passionate accusers when staff showed favoritism. Their intense friendships were marked by blood like the Indians.