Today’s Unfit Yet Truly Morbid Fact!
Until the end of the 18th century, life for the mentally ill was extremely difficult. In addition to the fact that diagnosis and professional treatment were virtually nonexistent, the mentally ill were viewed with considerable misunderstanding, suspicion, and superstition. The vast majority of such people were considered “the lowest of the low” and were subjected to atrocious treatment: beatings, drownings, burnings, and isolation or banishment. Those fortunate enough to have financial means were afforded some kind of care to alleviate their suffering, but it was not what we would call treatment today. The financially endowed had the security of their own homes and could be attended to by their families. And while “professional” care was extremely limited, it was better than the alternatives. Those with no means were forced into the streets, into jails, or into medical institutions that were more like pens, and were rejected by society as unfit. In hospitals and jails, the mentally ill were cared for by guards and keepers who delighted in tormenting them. In many cases, these guards or keepers sold tickets to the general public to come and view the “inmates” (as they were called at that time).
Culled from: America’s Care of the Mentally Ill: A Photographic History
