According to the article Restoring Perspective,"in the 19th century there was very little scientific understanding of mental illness, so physicians often relied upon accepted social conclusions to explain mental illness". During this century the article states that, "Physicians believed that they could cure patients if they could alter the physical environment by removing a patient from the city, or by stopping an unacceptable behavior such as masturbation or by surgically removing parts of the body or brain. "Sadly, the word "insane" was used for everyone regardless of their diagnosis.
Christopher Myers mentions that, "The moral treatment theory of psychiatry sought to minimize the use of restraints, encourage a level of self-sufficiency, and basically treat the insane as humans instead of animals. However, these insane asylums were not proven accurate.
The life in an Asylum in the 19th Century was horrible for the patients. For example, the patients were able to get in but not able to leave. Christopher Myers stated that as punishment patients got spun around until they vomited or were abused by the staff. Surprisingly, in the 19th century women were committed for being women.
19 Century Insane Asylum: Behind Closed Doors
Works cited:
Myers, Christopher. “13 Unforgivable Facts About Life In 19th Century Insane Asylums.” Ranker, www.ranker.com/list/life-in-19th-century-mental-institutions-and-insane-asylums/christopher-myers.
“Insane Asylum.” Google, goo.gl/images/bAi9aE.
“Restoring Perspective: Life and Treatment at the London Asylum .” Edited by Natalie Dyck, Restoring Perspective: Life & Treatment at London's Asylum, 2008, www.lib.uwo.ca/archives/virtualexhibits/londonasylum/terminology.html.
“Behind Closed Doors: A Looked inside Insane Asylum of the 19th Century.” YouTube, 11 Nov. 2015, youtu.be/EtgzpAbxcRI.
“Behind Closed Doors: A Looked inside Insane Asylum of the 19th Century.” YouTube, 11 Nov. 2015, youtu.be/EtgzpAbxcRI.
While reading your post, I found it very interesting that people could admit themselves for help but could not leave when they felt "better." It's so disgusting how patients in insane asylums or even today in psychiatric hospitals still get taken advantage of and abused only for wanting to get better. I also thought it was very interesting that the physicians believed they could cure someone solely by removing them from a specific environment.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading your post, I was surprised to hear that patients would be spun around until they vomited. I knew that abuse in asylums was common, but I did not know it was to that degree of torture. Your post was very interesting!
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