1856 WESTERN LUNATIC ASYLUM - Mental Issues / Religious Excitement / Pregnancy


1856 WESTERN LUNATIC ASYLUM - Mental Issues / Religious Excitement / Pregnancy

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1856 WESTERN LUNATIC ASYLUM - Mental Issues / Religious Excitement / Pregnancy:
$75.00


A DOCTOR ENSURES THAT THE PATIENT WAS MENTALLY ILL BEFORE PREGNANCY

This letter really makes you ponder the scenario which led to the statement made within it. Dr. JohnCarper writes a brief letter (4 3/4 x 7 3/4 inch page) dated July 4, 1856 from Franklin County (presumably Virginia). This letter, no doubt, was received by Dr. Stribling. Dr. Francis Stribling was the first Director of the hospital (he served in this position from 1840-1874). His emphasis at the institution was the moral and ethical treatment of the patients. Stribling became quite well-known in the early history and development of mental institutions in the United States and was a good friend with Dorothea Dix, with whom he had a lengthy correspondence.The Doctorwrites:

\"I have been informed that Mrs. Taylor showed evidences of Mental Disease two years prior to her pregnancy, her disease is attributed to Religious Excitement. I have been informed that her Father, Uncle and Aunt were deranged.\"

This one leads to a lot of questions. Why was Mrs. Taylor\'s pregnancy being questioned? Was this a legal dispute about her child? Was there a question about how she got pregnant? Also, what is mental disease caused by religious excitement? Definitely interesting.

Western Lunatic Asylum became Western State Hospital in 1894. Although it was known for its good treatment of patients in the 19th century, standards went down hill in the early 20th century. Watch my items for more letters to Dr. Stribling / Western Lunatic Asylum. Also watch for a variety of other nice paper items (including Civil War).

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1856 WESTERN LUNATIC ASYLUM - Mental Issues / Religious Excitement / Pregnancy:
$75.00

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