Remove the Chains
[SARN Memo for February 24, 2010]
In the 1700s, the people in Europe’s mental asylums were kept in chains. They were abused and treated cruelly. Why? People thought they were immoral.
Philippe Pinel, in 1793, challenged this idea. He said that the “mentally deranged” were diseased rather than immoral. So he set them free. He removed the chains. His plan: Cure them through humane treatment and compassionate care.
Respond to this memo!1. More About Philippe Pinel
Philippe Pinel removed the chains and restraints from the inmates at the Bicêtre asylum, and later from those at the Salpêtrière asylum. His pioneering method, called “moral management,” used gentle treatment and patience rather than physical abuse and chains on asylum patients.
Show this picture and invite people to take turns talking about what they see, what it reminds them of.
Click on the image to see a larger version.
Philippe Pinel (1745-1826) releasing lunatics from their chains at the Bicêtre asylum in Paris in 1793. Painting by Charles-Louis Müller (1815-1892). Source: http://archpsyc.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/extract/60/5/442
2. Resource
Saints, Sinners, and Special People
Using this self-led workshop, your group will learn about the moral view of disability and how to counter this harmful stereotype.
Today’s Trivia Question:
February 26th is celebrated as a holiday by what religious group?
- Christians (Jesus’ birthday)
- Buddhists (Sidhartha’s birthday)
- Muslims (Muhammad’s birthday)
- Jews (Moses’ birthday)
(The answer will be published in the next Memo.)
Answer to February 17th Trivia Question: a. George Washington
Question was: Which president gave the first “State of the Union” speech?
- George Washington
- Alexander Hamilton
- Abraham Lincoln
- John F. Kennedy
Do you have a trivia item you’d like to submit?
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Reader Responses
No question this time but l think the correct answer to Feb’s question is ‘c’ (Muslims cel----------Muhammad’s birthday)