By the 1840s, these ideas finally spread to Williamsburg. John Minson Galt II took over the hospital in 1841 and dedicated himself to maximizing the use of respect and kindness in shaping the behavior of the mentally ill. He instituted treatments such as good nutrition and sleep, socialization, and recreational therapy. The hospital census swelled, stretching resources thin. As the Civil War brewed, support shifted to the war effort, and the hospital was forced to release many patients into the countryside.
Thus, things had come full circle. Due to the political upheaval, mental healthcare had returned to pre-Revolutionary War conditions. Despite continued interest in the “moral management” methods of treatment, the political times could not provide the support.
As is so common today, the struggle between idealism and practicality was clearly reflected in the patients’ treatments and lives. Though the pendulum did swing back, bringing better treatment for the mentally ill, we continue to seek this fine balance. TH
Reference
Zwelling SS. Quest for a cure: The public hospital in Williamsburg, Virginia, 1773-1885. Williamsburg, Va; Colonial Williamsburg Foundation: 1986.