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Bethlem Royal Hospital Research Paper

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There have been many insane asylums throughout London, some of which are very well known for having strange practices and beliefs regarding the patients that resided there. One particular asylum that is famously known for being England 's first mental institution, is Bethlem Royal hospital. First opening in 1357, it has since been labeled as the oldest asylum in the world. Not only is it known for being England’s first mental institution, it is also known for its infamous practices. Bethlem Royal Hospital has had many masters/owners which have implemented many cruel practices, however, the most surprising and horrific techniques used in this institution would be from 1700-1900. The Bethlem Royal Hospital used cruel and neglectful behavior, …show more content…
Some more practices that were inflicted upon permanent residents, was the dunking of patients in ice cold water in order to try and cure them. Seclusion was the most famous way to torture a patient. Having a patient be alone for a long period of time after caused paranoia and many psychiatric doctors concluded that “seclusions from relations are the principal auxiliaries” in order to keep a patient in check (Delvin, #6). The common use of phlebotomy, a way of puncturing a patient 's vein or main artery in order to achieve bloodletting, caused a great number of patients to bleed out and result in death.
Upon notice of a deceased patient, the majority of those found were unclaimed by their families and were left to be taken by medical students to be used as dissection specimens. In particular, a chief surgeon, Dr. Bryan Crowther, took great interest in the newly deceased bodies and would cut open the skull to view the brain. This was done in hopes of obtaining a better understanding of the functions of the brain and to later on find a cure for the cause of mental illnesses (Listverse, …show more content…
It was a psychiatric institution known for its strange practices and beliefs regarding the patients residing in the institution. A strong belief that the patients needed to choose a rational mind over insanity led to the famous technique of intimidation. Most of the owners/masters in the old days would implement cruel practices. These infamous practices were surprising and horrific techniques used around the 1700-1900. Employees used violent, intimidating, corrupt, and neglectful behavior which ended up worsening the mental state of the

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