Statements in regard to the treatment of the insane : showing our duty to the poor and insane / and the abuses they suffer.

  • Prescott, Electa.
Date:
[1848]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Statements in regard to the treatment of the insane : showing our duty to the poor and insane / and the abuses they suffer. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

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    think I should rather be one year dying with hunger in Ire- land, than to be twenty years dying in America with hun- ger and cold in some lonely cell, with a shattered mind, un- able to control my feelings, suffering, as a criminal, under the lash of a whip. After much light and knowledge respecting the insane, has been diffused among us, such cruelties, we have reason to believe, still exist. Just contrast the kind treatment in our hospitals, with such abuses. I have visited the Hos- pital in Worcester a number of times, and conversed with the insane; the greater part answered me rationally when I asked them a question; the most of them attend meet- ing steadily, and behave well : when at meeting they seem to feel a restraint upon them, they are diverted, and a spir- it of self respect seems to kindle within their breast; when out of meeting they feel more at liberty, and when there is nothing in particular to take their attention, they are more inclined to give way to their crazy feelings. Some were inclined to do mischief, and would contrive to do it slily ; they would use as much cunning as a rational per- son ; some would swear and use indecent language; some would rather die, seemingly, than not to gratify their feel- ings. No doubt but the greater part knew they were do- ing wrong, but their feelings pressed them to do it; no doubt but what they might control their feelings more than they do, if they were so disposed, but their minds are so weak, that they want some inducement to check their feel- ings ; if they should make an effort to overcome their feel- ings, at times of excitement, without something to draw them mildly from it, it might make the mind still weaker. I have not the least doubt but what the majority of these crazy people have a better knowledge than those that have the care of them, of what they can bear themselves. On this subject they use more reason accordingly than ration- al people, for they feel the need of it. The whip or harsh treatment might drive them to make an effort to overcome their feelings, but this very effort might weaken their minds and increase their insanity; and in addition to this they might feel degraded and abused, which would prey upon their spirits. I once knew a crazy girl, that was whipped and used with severity in times of her excitement. In this way they made her mind ; she seemed to lose all pride and self respect, and has remained a poor maniac for more than thirty years. I think those that are dangerous to be around ought to have tight rooms where they can injure