Astounding Disclosures!

Three Years in a Mad House

In 1844 Isaac H. Hunt was committed to the Maine Insane Hospital in Augusta, where he stayed
for three years. In 1851 he published an account of his experiences, detailing abuse by staff and
forced medications that caused him considerable distress. Exposs, such as presented in this
excerpt, reflect a long history of institutionalized people protesting their treatment and challenge
many official histories of asylums.
The author of this little work, was, on the 21st of September, 1844, taken to the
Maine Insane Hospital, in the city of Augusta, State of Maine, a wild maniac. The Hospital at that
time was under the superintendance of Dr. Isaac Ray, now of the Butler Insane Asylum, of
Providence, R.I. In this institution I remained nearly three years, and I shall endeavor to give a
vivid description of each and every circumstance connected with my confinement, treatment,
torture of body and mind, and the malpractice performed on me. These facts will enable the
reader to judge of the extent of my madness. It is of no use for me to deny, (for of that fact there is
abundant proof,) that when I was taken to the Hospital I was a perfectly deranged man, laboring
under a strong fever of the brain, or great and uncontrollable mental excitement, of which, under
humane treatment, I should have recovered, and no doubt returned to my business in full
possession of my mental and physical faculties. But the moment I entered the Hospital a fear
came over mea deep state of mental depression was followed by that of horror and fear, and of
course what little consciousness I had at the time was put to flight, for I knew not, but dreaded
what was to follow. I entered the Hospital on Saturday evening; the first assay they made was to
have me swallow some Pills. I refused, but was forced to submit, and took them. This operation
was under the direction and personal assistance of Dr. Ray, and the attendant, Alvin S. Babcock.
The next day I felt the necessity of a shower bath, and expressed my feelings to Dr. Ray. But, in
language, you will doubtless think very cold and vulgar in so learned a gentleman, he thus
addressed me:"We're very short on't for water, and I can't let you have it; there has'nt been no
rain lately, and I can't let you have it." I then said: "Sir, if you will tell me where you get your
water, I will go and get some myself, as a gallon will be sufficient." He then said that he could not
let me have it; to which I replied:"Sir, I think that I need it, and if you cannot let me have it
here, will you permit me to go to my own house, or some other place, where I can have such
remedies as my case requires." To this he replied:"You can't go; you have been brought here by
your friends, and you must stay until you get well." I was hereupon plied with medicine, the effect
of which was to cause me to travel the gallery for hours and hours, perfectly wild and
uncontrolable, as patients often are in almost any Insane Hospital. But I trust to God that in no
other case have those walks been caused in mad men, as was mine, by horrid draughts of, to me, a
nameless medicine. This state of my mind and physical prostration, through the effect of that

medicine, was continued for several days without intermission, until about the close of the next
week, or sometime in the week following, when I was given medicine which threw me upon my
bed, followed by the most horrid chills, that shook me, body and soul and made my very bones
rattle,my teeth chattered and my bones rattled like the dry bones of a skeleton; I gave up all
hope of life with such composureas I could muster; but my hour had not come, for at this
juncture, Babcock, the attendant, came and gave me a bowl of hot ginger tea, saying in a jocular
manner:"Die! oh, no, not youyou'll not die yetyou're worth a dozen dead men." The tea and
the application of a pyramid of blankets and comforters, warmed the systemthe chills retreated,
and I kept my bed for some days. About the ninth day after I went there, I was again subjected to
the horrid wild-fire medicine, which was followed by the same terrible and strange sensations and
wanderings over the gallery. I refused peremtorily to suffer this treatment; I refused to take the
medicine. The attendant insisted that I should, and harsh words followed. I told him the medicine
was destroying me and I would not take it. He then commanded me in a tone of authority, to take
the medicine. I did take it. I took it from his hand and dashed it out of the window! In a moment
this stalwart, muscular man struck me a violent blow upon my head which either knocked me
down, or he instantly seized me and crushed me to the floor. I struggled, when he siezed me by
the throat and choked me. I began to have fear that he had my death in view, and would murder
me upon the spot. I begged for my life, when he harshly exclaimed. "I will learn you not to throw
away your medicine when I give it to you!" I begged for mercy, and promised if my life was spared
to take anything he might give me. Upon this he released me, and I continued my usual dull
routine of the previous days. The next morning, Babcock entered my room, as usual, with
medicine. From the treatment I had already received, of course I dared not refuse to swallow the
terrible draught, though it should instantly cause death. I took the pills, and some liquid
contained in a mug. These compounds had the effect to destroy my bodily health for the residue of
my earthly existence. There is a penalty for such malpractice, and if I had it in my power to bring
Dr. Isaac Ray and Dr. Horatio S. Smith before the legal tribunals of my country, I should not
possibly find any difficulty in sending them to the State Penitentiary for the full term of twenty
years for malpractice, and three years additional for conspiracy.