When was this "asylum" opened, and
what did it look like?
The asylum was opened in 1855, organized
by Congress. The martials used to build this place was used from the property. They
used the wood on the property and clay to make the bricks. They used different
species of tree for the woodwork in each ward; there was cherry ward and beech
ward for example. There is a brick and stonewall along the campus roads and
walkways that still exist today.
What was it's original intent?The original intent of St. Elizabeths was to provide care of the mentally ill in the most humane way as possible to the army, navy, and the district of Columbia.
Who were the patients there?
The patients at first was individuals of the army, navy, and the District of Columbia. Then it was opened to all others.
What was the patients' experience like in that institution, and did that change over the course of the institution's history?
The institution was founded around the philosophy of care known as moral treatment. Dorothy Dix worked hard to uphold the proper care in the institute although not perfect it grew and changed with the time. They used treatments such as lobotomy and hydrotherapy.
How did the institution, its services, and
patients change over time?
They used a lot of new methods in this institute
and did a lot of research there. After the civil war they temporarily turned it
into a hospital for the wounded soldiers. In 1990 they only housed 850 people
the condition of the building was falling down and not in good shape for people
to live in they have but since declared it a historical place and have torn
down a lot of the building there.
How many people lived and worked and died there?
How many people lived and worked and died there?
In the early years it housed more than 7,000
people they have became over populated that they kept building on to continue
to hold more people. As of today, there is less than 400 there. At the end of
war world IIthere is an estimate of 7460. There is a cemetery there where there
is about 300 union, confederate soldiers who died there, and approximately 160
civilian patients from St. Elizabeth’s.
Were bad conditions ever exposed to the public? How?
Were bad conditions ever exposed to the public? How?
The bad conditions were exposed and
under went change by Dorothy Dix.
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