In the mid- to late 1800s, insane asylums served as catch-all facilities ... In 1867, the 17-year-old allegedly poisoned her stepfather’s afternoon cup, killing him. Why would she do such ...

My first encounter with the Bloomingdale Insane Asylum ... from 14 to 83 years old, bifurcated between “those who paid for their care and those who were charity cases subsidized by the state.” ...