Women with typhoid locked in an asylum until they 'went mad'
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A BBC investigation has learned that at least 43 female typhoid carriers were locked up for life in a mental hospital in Epsom, Surrey between 1907 and as recently as 1992.
They had recovered from the disease but still excreted the bacterium and therefore were seen to pose a public health risk, and were incarcerated indefinitely.
Nursing staff told the BBC that some of the women may have been sane when they were admitted but went mad because of their incarceration.
Jeanie Kennett, a ward manager, said it was a "basic existence" for the patients.
"They're somebody's loved ones, they're somebody's mother, or sister, everybody had forgotten about them - they were just locked away," she said.
"Life was pretty tough; they were seen as objects, it was prison-like - everything was lock and key."
Can you believe that these kinds of secret incarcerations took place just a few years ago Were the authorities justified in keeping these typhoid carriers away from the general public, even after the advent of antibiotics? Why were no men subjected to the same treatment?
They had recovered from the disease but still excreted the bacterium and therefore were seen to pose a public health risk, and were incarcerated indefinitely.
Nursing staff told the BBC that some of the women may have been sane when they were admitted but went mad because of their incarceration.
Jeanie Kennett, a ward manager, said it was a "basic existence" for the patients.
"They're somebody's loved ones, they're somebody's mother, or sister, everybody had forgotten about them - they were just locked away," she said.
"Life was pretty tough; they were seen as objects, it was prison-like - everything was lock and key."
Can you believe that these kinds of secret incarcerations took place just a few years ago Were the authorities justified in keeping these typhoid carriers away from the general public, even after the advent of antibiotics? Why were no men subjected to the same treatment?
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alicynx
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Not to detract from the horror here, but 1992 was not just a few years ago. That was 15 years ago, by no stretch a few years.
Why is this even shocking to us? We are not in control, the governments of the globe are the ones who call the shots and they do whatever they want. As "the Man" they have no conscience, no remorse, and no allegiance to anyone but the people in the driver's seat. I long for the day when we're ruled by benevolence, but it'll never happen. Horror is what keeps people in line, and it will always win. *sigh* - 3 years ago
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alicynx
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