A Psychiatric Milestone: Bloomingdale Hospital Centenary, 1821-1921

This commemorative volume marks the first hundred years of a pioneering American mental‑health institution, tracing its origins from a modest 1821 asylum to a leading center of psychiatric care. The narrative highlights how early treatments focused on physical restraints and medicines, then gradually embraced “moral treatment” that addressed patients’ thoughts, feelings, and behavior. Detailed accounts of the hospital’s evolving philosophy illustrate the broader shift in 19th‑century medicine toward a more humane, science‑based approach.

The book also records the centennial celebration, featuring four distinguished physicians from the United States, France, and England who shared cutting‑edge ideas on psychopathology, war‑related neuroses, and the integration of psychiatry into general practice. Alongside these speeches, a historical review and a medical superintendent’s report provide a vivid snapshot of the era’s clinical debates and achievements. Listeners will come away with a clear sense of how early optimism and international collaboration laid the groundwork for modern mental‑health care.