Hysterical Mental / 1876
Poster Prints from Mary Evans Picture Library
Hysterical Mental / 1876
Mental patient exhibiting hysterical contraction of the arm, whilst in hospital bed Date: 1876
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Media ID 7147189
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10102695
1876 Contraction Exhibiting Hysterical Insanity Mental Patient Patients Whilst
EDITORS COMMENTS
This haunting image captures the moment of intense emotional distress and physical manifestation of hysteria in a mental patient from the late 19th century. The photograph, taken in 1876, depicts a woman lying in a hospital bed with an expression of anguish on her face. Her left arm is contorted in a painful-looking position, a clear indication of the hysterical contraction that gave this condition its name. At the time, hysteria was a widely diagnosed mental disorder, particularly among women, and was believed to be caused by various factors, including emotional stress, repressed sexuality, or even a "wandering womb." The hospital setting underscores the medical community's attempts to understand and treat this enigmatic condition. Hysteria was often viewed as a moral or social problem, and patients were subjected to a range of treatments, from hypnosis and massage to electrical shock therapy and hydrotherapy. The use of photography in mental health diagnosis and treatment was still in its infancy during this period, and images like this one offer a rare glimpse into the lives of patients and the medical community's evolving understanding of mental illness. Despite the advances in psychiatry and psychology that have since occurred, this photograph serves as a poignant reminder of the human capacity for emotional pain and the complex ways in which it can manifest. The woman in the image may be long gone, but her story and the story of hysteria continue to resonate with us today, shedding light on the enduring mystery of the human mind and the importance of compassionate care for those who struggle with mental health issues.
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