The History of Bethlem / Edition 1

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

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780415017732
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	10/09/1997
Pages:	766
Product dimensions:	6.88(w) x 9.69(h) x (d)

About the Author

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

Table of Contents

List of plates, List of figures, List of tables, Acknowledgements, List of abbreviations, 1. Introduction, PART I: 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 Bedlam, PART II: 1633-1783, 11. Background, 12. 'Charitable persons for excellent ends': the administration and finance of Bethlem, 13. Visiting, 14. 'The discipline of the house': environment, management and architecture, 15. The architecture of Bethlem at Moorfields, 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 Bethlem, PART III: 1783-1900, 20. Encomium: Bethlem, charity and the first history of the Hospital, 21. Fact and fancy, 22. A change of scene: Bethlem's move to Southwark, 23. Attack: Bethlem and the 1815 Select Committee, 24. Bethlem and reform, 25. Investigation, 26. Classifying and consoling, 27. A Victorian institution, PART IV: 1900 to 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, 1901-82, 32. Serving Bethlem: medical and nursing staff, 1901-82, 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, 1982-94, 36. Conclusion, PART V: Appendices, 1. Masters, wardens or keepers of Bethlem, 1247-1633, 2. Bethlem and Bridewell presidents, 1606-1793, 3. Bethlem and Bridewell apothecaries, 1634-1816, 4. Bethlem and Bridewell physicians, 1619-1816, 5. Bethlem and Bridewell surgeons, 1629-1815, 6. Bethlem medical officers, 1783-1900, 7. Twentieth-century Bethlem officers, Name index, Subject index

Editorial Reviews

'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

From the Publisher