THE HAMILTON ASYLUM
As far back as we have historical records, people have been plagued by voices, delusions and manias, and suffered madness. In prehistoric times, strange behaviour was viewed as demonic possession. If you want archeological evidence, check out skulls with holes drilled in them, apparently while the sufferers were still alive, to let the demons out.
Societal values come into sharper focus if you consider changes in how society views sexual functioning. In the popular mind in 1894, masturbation caused insanity. Russell suggested instead that it was a symptom because many people masturbated who did not become insane. But those who couldn't keep their hands out of their pants had a "weak mentality" that led to a "mental degeneration" and culminated in "terminal dementia."
When the Lunatics Act of 1873 became law, physicians were required to list predisposing factors (what we would now call genetic predisposition) as well as "exciting" causes (what we might call environmental factors) in an effort to guard against wrongful confinement.
Job loss, traumatic typhoid, loss of wife, whiskey and masturbation were considered some of the environmental risk factors on an Ontario 1873 asylum-admission register.
His cure? "Invigorating
THE ASYLUM II
athletic sports should be insisted upon." And never underestimate the seductive power of the pen: "Trashy love stories should be discarded and everything calculated to excite erotic passions should be religiously avoided.'' Cricket was in. Erotica was out.
" The line between eccentric behaviour and mental illness is constantly shifting, reflecting the social values of an era. Today, we view our problems as medical issues and have pills not just for serious ills but minor complaints. "