766 Pages
    by Routledge

    766 Pages
    by Routledge

    Bethlem Hospital, popularly known as "Bedlam", is a unique institution. Now seven hundred and fifty years old, it has been continuously involved in the care of the mentally ill in London since at least the 1400s. As such it has a strong claim to be the oldest foundation in Europe with an unbroken history of sheltering and treating the mentally disturbed. During this time, Bethlem has transcended locality to become not only a national and international institution, but in many ways, a cultural and literary myth.
    The History of Bethlem is a scholarly history of this key establishment by distinguished authors, including Asa Briggs and Roy Porter. Based upon extensive research of the hospital's archives, the book looks at Bethlem's role within the caring institutions of London and Britain, and provides a long overdue re-evaluation of its place in the history of psychiatry.

    Acknowledgements, List of Abbreviations, List of Plates, Tables, Figures, 1. IntroductionSection 1: 1247-1633 2. Background 3. The Foundation of the Priory of St Mary of Bethlehem 4. The Development of the Bethlem Precinct 5. Politics and Patronage 6. Bethlem's Income 7. From Bethlehem to Bedlam: Changing Roles and Personnel 8. Medieval Attitudes Towards and Treatment of the Insane 9. Institutional Care for the Insane in Medieval and Early Modern Times 10. Images of BedlamSection 2: 1633-1783 11. Background 12. Charitable Persons 13. Visiting 14. The Discipline of the House 15. The Architecture of Bethlem at Moorfields by Christine Stevenson 16. Medicine, Medical Officers and Therapeutics 17. The Rule of 'Sky-Colour'd Coats': Inferior Officers and Servants 18. Admission and Discharge 19. The Politics of Committal to Early Modern BethlemSection 3: 1783-1900 20. Panegyric 21. Fact and Fancy 22. A Change of Scene 23. Attack 24. Reform 25. Investigating 26. Classifying and Connecting 27. A Victorian Institution Section 4: 1900-the Present 28. Bethlem and the Twentieth Century 29. A New Eden: Bethlem's Move to Monks Orchard 30. New Beginnings: The Merger of Bethlem and the Maudsley 31. Managing Millions: Administration and Finance: 1901-1982 32. Serving Bethlem: Medical and Nursing Staff: 101-1982 33. In a Presumably Curable Condition - The Character of Admissions in the Twentieth Century 34. Tempering Madness: Patients and the Treatment of Mental Illness in Twentieth Century Bethlem 35. From SHA to NHS Trust: 1982-1994 36. Conclusion Index

    Biography

    Jonathan Andrews, Asa Briggs, Roy Porter, Penny Tucker and Keir Waddington

    'There are five Authors here, all distinguished in their field, and they have joined forces to produce a magnificent book, well laid out and documented. Its main function is to set the record straight and in this the authors have suceeeded fully' - - John Clay, Literary Review