Encontrei em um site uma descrição muito curiosa de Samuel Tuke, a respeito do modo de contenção dos alienados do Retiro:Some years ago a man, about thirty-four years of age, of almost Herculean size and figure, was brouth to the house.
He had been afflicted several times before; and so constantly, during the present attack, had he been kept chained, that his clothes were contrive to be taken off and put on by means of strings without removing his manacles.
They were however taken off, when he entered the Retreat, and he was
ushered into the apartment, where the superintendents were supping.
He was calm; his attention appeared to be arrested by his new situation. He was desired to join in the repast, during which he behaved with tolerable propriety.
After it was concluded, the superintendent conducted him to his apartment, and told him the circumstances on which his treatment would depend; that it was his anxious wish to make every inhabitant in the house as comfortable as possible; and that he sincerely hoped the patient's conduct would render it unnecessary for him to have recourse to coercion.
The maniac was sensible of the kindness of his treatment. He promised to restrain himself, and he so completely succeeded, that during his stay, no coercive means were ever employed towards him.
This case affords a striking example of the efficacy of mild treatment. The patient was frequently very vociferous, and threatened his attendants, who in their defence were very desirous of restraining him by the jacket.
The superintendent on these occasions, went to his apartment; and though the first sight of him seemed rather to increase the patient's irritation, yet after sitting some time quietly beside him, the violent excitement subsided, and he would listen with attention to the persuasions and arguments of his friendly visiter.
After such conversations, the patient was generally better for some days or a week; and in about four months he was discharged perfectly recovered.
Can it be doubted, that, in this case, the disease had been greatly exacerbated by the mode of management? or that the subsequent kind of treatment had a great tendency to promote his recovery.
Estamos em época do nascimento dos "tratamentos morais" da loucura, mediados precisamente por uma imbricação confusa entre coerção moral e "técnica médica". Imbricação confusa que, com o advento do positivismo, conferirá uma difícil e estranha situação quando se pretende descrever todo tipo de fundamentação para uma ciência das "doenças mentais".
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