Lord Nelson

[Oxford]

The new inmate at the mental hospital announced in a loud voice
that he was the famous British naval hero, Lord Nelson. This
was particularly interesting, because the institution already had a
"Lord Nelson."

The head psychiatrist, after due consideration, decided to put the
two men in the same room, feeling that the similarity of their delusions
might prompt an adjustment in each that would help in curing them.
It was a calculated risk, of course, for the two men might react violently
to one another, but they were introduced and then left alone and no
disturbance was heard from the room that night.

The next morning, the doctor had a talk with his new patient and was
more than pleasantly surprised when he was told "Doctor, I've been
suffering from a delusion. I know now for a fact that I am not Lord
Nelson."

"That's wonderful," said the doctor. "Who are you?"

Smiling coyly, the patient replied, "I'm Lady Nelson."