Chase, Hiram 1801-1877 creator text utu 2014 monographic en 1 online resource : multiple file formats "Two Years and Four Months in a Lunatic Asylum" by Hiram Chase is a personal narrative written in the late 19th century. The book recounts the author’s harrowing experiences as a patient in a lunatic asylum in Utica, New York, shedding light on the oppressive conditions and treatment of mental health patients during that era. Chase illustrates his journey from being a respected minister to becoming an unwitting inmate, highlighting the misconceptions surrounding mental illness and the brutal realities of institutional life. The opening of the narrative begins with a preface in which Hiram Chase outlines the reasons for documenting his asylum experiences, aiming to reveal the truths about such institutions which were often misunderstood by society. He reflects on his previous ignorance about asylums, recounting his sudden decline into a state of mental distress triggered by various stressors, ultimately leading to his forced commitment. As he describes his feelings of despair, confusion, and incredulity at being confined with individuals labeled as "insane," the reader is drawn into the psychological and emotional turmoil he endured during his two years and four months at the asylum. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Release date is 2014-07-02 Produced by Gonçalo Silva and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive) Original publication data not identified Chase, Hiram Mentally ill -- Care -- New York (State) -- Utica Mentally ill, Writings of the, American RC Original publication data not identified 14007190 https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/46179 https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/46179 UtSlPG 260607 20260610134047.0 46179