The State of Nineteenth Century Insane Asylums

 

Illustration of patients dancing at Hanwell (5)

    The world of Dracula mirrors much of the world around Bram Stoker while he was writing his soon-to-be critically acclaimed novel. Subtle hints of insanity and mania litter the text of Dracula. The menace spreads his influence like a sickness upon innocents; namely Lucy, Jonathan, and even Renfield. There was much obsession in the mid to late nineteenth century of the nature of insanity. While it is difficult to say how much real-world mental asylums played into the creation of the novel, it is not a stretch to say that much influence was taken. Much time and money were dedicated to the enclosure and study of those inflicted with this madness. Quality of life varied upon location, ranging from dismal to pleasant. 

Hanwell Asylum, a Place for Change

    The Middlesex County Lunatic Asylum served as one of many institutions to open in the wake of a movement for more ethical practices to be present in asylums across England in the 1800's. It was the cornerstone for later institutional practices in hospitals today when dealing with mentally ill patients. Much of what remains of this asylum belongs to the Science Museum of London, which preserves the artifacts and history for educational purposes. The museum states that prior to the asylum's creation, activists like Harriet Martineau and Samuel Tuke lead the charge in creating better living conditions for those afflicted with mental disabilities. This change made it so the government was wholly responsible for the care and comfort of the ill. Scientific research and rehabilitation reigned supreme over the common attitude to force these people away into warehouses and factories (4). This radical change in the zeitgeist of the time was unprecedented. It built the very foundation for places like Hanwell to exist. As for the conditions inside the asylum, they were a strictly restraint-free institution. According to the museum, Hanwell took a surveillance approach, so as not to physically hurt, or disrupt patients. In cases of violence, patients would be moved by nurses to a secluded area where they could not hurt themselves or other patients. The goal was to isolate the patient exhibiting violence until they were able to calm down and return. This supposedly had a "tranquillising" effect on those who needed the treatment (4). It seemed -- at the time -- a much more humane way of dealing with trouble patients. This is simply One asylum of many in the greater England area, and this is not to say that all asylums were perfect. In fact, across the country in Glasgow, Scotland laid an asylum with a much more sinister history.

The Royal Asylum, Two Steps Back

Photograph of the asylum in 1890 (1)

    The Royal Asylum served as one of the many asylums to open in the wake of the humanitarian movement for mental illness. Unlike Hanwell, however, these practices were not long-lasting. In her entry to the Historical Social Research Journal, Mary Orr Johnson Chronicles the history of questionable practices assumed by the Royal Asylum. She raises the idea of "moral management" and how much it was in use in this asylum. Many cases are brought up like the case of Rodger R. who, according to medical journals from staff, was a violent offender exhibiting manic episodes and a sickly complexion. He was "cured" twice before being released. Of course, he wound up reoffending, which called into question the quality of practices being used in the asylum (2). These are extreme cases being brought up. Though, at the time the cultural shift still called for the proper and humane treatment of these offenders. We often fail to understand that these were simply different times. Even with the amount of research going into treatment, they still didn't know of the proper safeguards and treatments available today. There is much evidence in the journal to say that in most of these cases, practitioners would resort to "traditional" methods of handling these patients. This includes restraint and subduing of patients (2). This is much unlike what the museum told us of the Hanwell asylum and their use of "non-restraint", which seemed to prove effective and non-violent (4).

Where To Go from Here

    These institutions were not black and white, they were limited by the period they existed in. Limited knowledge on the extent of mental illness, and the dogma propped up for centuries that these conditions were signs of great evil. The influence of these real locations in works like Dracula is clear. Bram Stoker lived at a time where much interest and investment went into the studying if the mentally ill, so it is no wonder that he may have felt inspired to insert these elements into his book. While these ghosts of the past may have influenced books like Dracula it is important to also remember the great tragedies that occurred in these places. Times have gone by, and we have grown, and the only thing to do now is learn.

SOURCES

(1). Ann, Thomas. “Glasgow Royal Asylum.” Source News Scotland, sourcenews.scot/asylums-in-glasgow-the-buildings-where-madness-was-managed/.

(2). Johnson, Mary Orr. “THE INSANE IN 19TH-CENTURY BRITAIN: A Statistical Analysis of a Scottish Insane Asylum.” Historical Social Research / Historische Sozialforschung, vol. 17, no. 3 (63), 1992, pp. 3–20. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/20755671. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025.

(3). Stoker, Bram, and Marjorie Howes. Dracula. J.M. Dent ; Charles E. Tuttle Co, 1996.

(4). “A Victorian Mental Asylum.” Science Museum, 28 June 2018, www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/objects-and-stories/medicine/victorian-mental-asylum. Accessed 05 Mar. 2025

(5). “A Victorian Mental Asylum.” Science Museum, 28 June 2018, www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/sites/default/files/styles/social_twitter/public/2018-06/dance_0.jpg?h=64325584&itok=lbHWpCj0,%20https://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/sites/default/files/styles/social_twitter/public/2018-06/dance_0.jpg?h=64325584&itok=lbHWpCj0. Accessed 2025.