The 18th century was a time of great reflection and “enlightenment” resulting in the questioning of society, and changes in science which saw the belief in evil spirits regarded as superstition. It wasn’t until the 18th century that the science of psychiatry really began to develop, and with it came changes in the way that society treated the mentally ill. Whilst inside an inmate had no legal redress and no means to fight for their release as they were refused contact with any visitors. Husbands who could afford to pay a sympathetic doctor could have their wives imprisoned at the madhouse with no just cause other than they would not obey their spouse. Melancholy, wilfulness and “possession by evil spirits” could be reasons for committal to the madhouse. Over time society would use these institutions as places to lock away those who they felt weren’t “like them”, including those with what we would now consider to be low level learning difficulties. Those displaying symptoms were locked away from society and very often left to die in squalid and inhumane conditions. Records dating back as far as 1670 show that private mental health facilities or “madhouses” were in existence but it was not until a century later that there was any attempt to inspect and regulate them.Īt this time mental health treatment had not been developed and so conditions which we recognise and treat today were considered signs of madness.
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