Asylum Scandals

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Insane asylums have a horrific history, originally designed to isolate "madness" from society, but they eventually became sites for medical study of mental illness. Initially, these asylums were grand buildings set in beautiful landscapes. However, due to overcrowding, untrained staff, and corrupt administration, they devolved into places of squalor and neglect. State funding struggled to keep pace with the costs of maintaining these vast structures, leading to a decline in care quality as patient numbers surged. By the 1980s, many state hospitals were shut down. This book explores the history of Minnesota's two oldest state hospitals—St. Peter, opened in 1866, and Rochester, in 1879. At that time, laws permitted families to commit individuals with minimal evidence, often resulting in involuntary commitments with no chance of release. It provides a glimpse into daily life in these institutions from 1867 to 1915, featuring firsthand accounts from patients who experienced abuse, neglect, and even murder. Medical practices included hydrotherapy, electric shock treatments, and lobotomies, revealing a dark side to mental health treatment. The narrative uncovers just a fraction of the horrors that occurred within the walls of these state hospitals, hinting at many more secrets waiting to be unveiled.