Larry D. Eldridge, a professor at the Johns Hopkins University in Maryland, argues that the widespread beliefs of torture, isolation, and inhumane treatment of mentally ill patients during colonial times are inaccurate based on his own analysis of multiple primary sources within, “’Crazy Brained: Mental Illness in Colonial America.” Contrary to the conclusions of other historians, Eldridge’s research found that mental illness, primarily, was not as widespread as previously thought. He also concluded that neither the accounts of “fits and disturbances,” nor the societal viewpoint of mentally ill patients significantly changed over time. Quite interestingly, historian Lyle Koehler had previously published an article arguing that, “the afflicted
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The most common ailment stemmed from contextual depression, as women were and are more likely to suffer it than men. Some examples of depression occurred in Joan Edwards, Mary Harder, and the wife of John Russel; yet they were only reported and recorded because they were so afflicted that they refused to care for their work or children. Mrs. Hopkins (1652), the wife of Connecticut governor Edward Hopkins, was described as bearing a, “sadness infirmity…a loss of understanding and reasoning… [which could have been avoided if she]…had attended to her household affairs.”
In 1937, Albert Deutsch published an article claiming that, “mentally ill colonists were kept in kennels, cages, or prisons, being whipped while naked and even punished with imprisonment and labor.” However, Eldridge claims that the lack of evidence shows how incorrect this statement could be. An overall religious outlook on life proved an aversion to cruelty in addition to the natural human tendency to be sympathetic, empathetic, and compassionate. In an age where societal religion was taken much more seriously than it is today, colonists honestly believed that what they did to others would be done unto …show more content…
Most citizens today have heard of at least one of the horrifying methods used on patients to try to relieve their mental pain- as endorsed by Deutsch. Because physicians didn’t know the anatomy of the human brain, as well as the cause of certain mental ailments, medical intervention included nasty ingredients like human hair to purge the the human system. These methods included bleeding, purging, induced vomiting, horrifying scents such as burning musk, cat blood potions, and witchcraft-inspired capsules. Instead, Eldridge’s research revealed that prayer and fasting completely overwhelmed other methods of treatments, completely opposing
The most common ailment stemmed from contextual depression, as women were and are more likely to suffer it than men. Some examples of depression occurred in Joan Edwards, Mary Harder, and the wife of John Russel; yet they were only reported and recorded because they were so afflicted that they refused to care for their work or children. Mrs. Hopkins (1652), the wife of Connecticut governor Edward Hopkins, was described as bearing a, “sadness infirmity…a loss of understanding and reasoning… [which could have been avoided if she]…had attended to her household affairs.”
In 1937, Albert Deutsch published an article claiming that, “mentally ill colonists were kept in kennels, cages, or prisons, being whipped while naked and even punished with imprisonment and labor.” However, Eldridge claims that the lack of evidence shows how incorrect this statement could be. An overall religious outlook on life proved an aversion to cruelty in addition to the natural human tendency to be sympathetic, empathetic, and compassionate. In an age where societal religion was taken much more seriously than it is today, colonists honestly believed that what they did to others would be done unto …show more content…
Most citizens today have heard of at least one of the horrifying methods used on patients to try to relieve their mental pain- as endorsed by Deutsch. Because physicians didn’t know the anatomy of the human brain, as well as the cause of certain mental ailments, medical intervention included nasty ingredients like human hair to purge the the human system. These methods included bleeding, purging, induced vomiting, horrifying scents such as burning musk, cat blood potions, and witchcraft-inspired capsules. Instead, Eldridge’s research revealed that prayer and fasting completely overwhelmed other methods of treatments, completely opposing