Old familiar faces: some aspects of the asylum era in Britain, Part II.

Abstract

The paper continues a review of clinical conditions and dilemmas which featured in Asylum practice during the years 1850-1950 in Britain. The rise and fall of 'Physiognomy' as a diagnostic aid and as an indicator of quality of asylum care is outlined. The problem of incontinence and the use of the ice cold douche as a therapeutic intervention in this and other forms of 'indolence or perversion' is reviewed from the writings of those who expressed opinions of these subjects at the time. Likewise, Destructive Behaviour, which was dealt with by means of 'strong clothes', presented a familiar problem. As in Part I of this review, the author concludes with a discussion of the causes and consequences of the changing faces of conditions seen in psychiatric hospitals. Viewed from the present, the changing nature of asylum insanity is apt to be forgotten and adverse judgment is apt to be applied to past practices.