| pubmed-article:18512183 | pubmed:abstractText | Until quite recently the history of the "House of the Poor Insane" in the Hanseatic City of Lübeck has only been studied selectively. Our study comprises an overall view of the comprehensive historical documents concerning this institution during the 17th and 18th century; the period of the following 40 years in another new constructed house is outlined likewise. Not only the journal, into which the principals of the institution wrote down the minutes, but foremost the cassa-books without omissions were used to describe the social history as well as the range of activities. Thus historical windows into the daily routine of the inmates are opened. - During the greater part of 17th century, the institution rather resembled a prison for the mentally ill, though in the end of the 17th and during the 18th century an important early phase of reform is to be recognized, followed, however, by a period of repression and "containment" towards the end of the century and in the beginning of the 19th century. Then again, this time initiated by the medical profession, the reform was revived. - The Lübeck findings are not only compared with the historical development of inpatient treatment in institutions elsewhere, but it is also discussed, which influences were the decisive factors for the public care in the city of Lübeck. | lld:pubmed |
