The typical asylum day was long, rigorously organised and highly controlled. bedroom doors of patients were unlocked at 6.00am. Patients were washed, their hair brushed and the state of their skin examined. At 9.00am, following breakfast, they were taken to the ‘airing courts’ and gardens while the wards were cleaned.
Bedtime was at 8.00pm, and patients slept in long rows of beds that were two feet and six inches apart.
Below are vintage photos of everyday asylum life that I restored.
Steam Box, Milledgeville State Hospital, 1908
“Lunatic Chair”, Dutch Mental Hospital, 1938
Restraining Chair, West Riding Lunatic Asylum, 1869
Standing Restraints, Asylum in France, 1900
Electro Shock Therapy, Central State Hospital, 1951
Dance Therepy, New York State Hospital, 1922
Doctors with Electro Shock Machine, St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, 1923
Hydrotherapy, St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, 1886
Electroshock Therapy
Ward for Women, West Riding Asylum, 1860’s
Doctors examine an X-Ray of patient
Sewing Class for Women, Utica State Hospital
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