"Lunatics".. That’s what they are called Then... And Now..
I’m going to Penang tomorrow with the gang and Pinache’s parents. I’m just so excited that I can’t sleep so I’m reading whatsoever that comes into my mind, just to make me sleepy; ex reading boring political stuff. However, instead of making me bored and heavy-eyed, whatever I’m reading now is making me excited and angry! The worst was when I read about how people in 15th century used to treat psychiatric patient, or what was more commonly known as lunatics;
Bethlem Royal Hospital became famous and infamous for the brutal ill-treatment meted out to the mentally ill. In 1675 Bedlam moved to new buildings in Moorfields designed by Robert Hooke, outside the City boundary. In the 18th century people used to go there to see the lunatics. For a penny one could peer into their cells, view the freaks of the "show of Bethlehem" and laugh at their antics, generally of a sexual nature or violent fights. Entry was free on the first Tuesday of the month. Visitors were permitted to bring long sticks with which to poke and enrage the inmates. In 1814, there were 96,000 such visits. The lunatics were first called "patients" in 1700, and "curable" and "incurable" wards were opened in 1725-34.
Can u believe that!! People are just so ridiculous and so heartless at that time! It’s not like it doesn’t happen nowadays, though I have to agree not as terrible as it used to be. I still remember when I had my psychiatric visit 2 months back, my groupies were actually laughing at the patients during the counseling session with the doctor. Well hello!! They made more sense than regular people! (I did too :-) but I think most of us were laughing surprised for their knowledge in world politics)
Then there was a time where we had to wait in the outpatient department. I saw many patients walking in and out. Some seem cured and were there just to get their regular check up, but most of them unfortunately could be differentiated with normal healthy person. Though several were obviously enjoying the attention; 1 aunty came with bright pink evening gown with Chinese opera-like make up & foundation (one of the characteristic of a disorder known as manic), a number of them were also awfully depressed and were crying, if not shaking and having robotic movements or drooling and staring deeply at one point all the time.
What caught my attention was a Down syndrome boy of 13 years old. He was one of those who looked fine and was sitting quietly. After some point of time he was looking at my group and started smiling. He was just so lovable that my heart went all out for him. Suddenly his caregiver, or probably maid came and just smacked him for staring at us, which then had stir him up and started acting violently that the nurses had to bind him to the wheelchair. It was just so sad. I mean he might have just been looking at us for no reason at all, and the guardian, being such an *******ass had put him into the hospital! Just hope to god he doesn’t get one of those scary ECT shots. I seriously adored him. But then again there is nothing I can do about it. Sigh… I just wished that along with evolution and the bloody development that has been happening since 15th century came with humanity!
Bethlem Royal Hospital became famous and infamous for the brutal ill-treatment meted out to the mentally ill. In 1675 Bedlam moved to new buildings in Moorfields designed by Robert Hooke, outside the City boundary. In the 18th century people used to go there to see the lunatics. For a penny one could peer into their cells, view the freaks of the "show of Bethlehem" and laugh at their antics, generally of a sexual nature or violent fights. Entry was free on the first Tuesday of the month. Visitors were permitted to bring long sticks with which to poke and enrage the inmates. In 1814, there were 96,000 such visits. The lunatics were first called "patients" in 1700, and "curable" and "incurable" wards were opened in 1725-34.
Can u believe that!! People are just so ridiculous and so heartless at that time! It’s not like it doesn’t happen nowadays, though I have to agree not as terrible as it used to be. I still remember when I had my psychiatric visit 2 months back, my groupies were actually laughing at the patients during the counseling session with the doctor. Well hello!! They made more sense than regular people! (I did too :-) but I think most of us were laughing surprised for their knowledge in world politics)
Then there was a time where we had to wait in the outpatient department. I saw many patients walking in and out. Some seem cured and were there just to get their regular check up, but most of them unfortunately could be differentiated with normal healthy person. Though several were obviously enjoying the attention; 1 aunty came with bright pink evening gown with Chinese opera-like make up & foundation (one of the characteristic of a disorder known as manic), a number of them were also awfully depressed and were crying, if not shaking and having robotic movements or drooling and staring deeply at one point all the time.
What caught my attention was a Down syndrome boy of 13 years old. He was one of those who looked fine and was sitting quietly. After some point of time he was looking at my group and started smiling. He was just so lovable that my heart went all out for him. Suddenly his caregiver, or probably maid came and just smacked him for staring at us, which then had stir him up and started acting violently that the nurses had to bind him to the wheelchair. It was just so sad. I mean he might have just been looking at us for no reason at all, and the guardian, being such an *******ass had put him into the hospital! Just hope to god he doesn’t get one of those scary ECT shots. I seriously adored him. But then again there is nothing I can do about it. Sigh… I just wished that along with evolution and the bloody development that has been happening since 15th century came with humanity!
