This groundbreaking study offers a comprehensive overview of the history of institutional care of the insane in North America. The authors analyze the development of mental healthcare from the colonial period to the early 20th century, exploring the key figures, institutions, and ideas that shaped this important field. Drawing on a wealth of primary sources and expert analysis, this book is essential reading for anyone interested in the history of medicine and psychiatry. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.