Term Paper on
Dorothea Dix
Introduction
This is the account of a woman who held salutary truthful environment and
restored the spiritual strength of the paranoiac. You are absolutely right… I am
talking about Dorothea Dix. During her long life she was an author of children's
books, a teacher, a prison activist, and the noble and political vigor behind
the creation of many mental hospitals, and mentor of women nurses for the Union
Army during the Civil War. The most famous American woman reformer of her time,
Dorothea Dix was a zealot, obsessed of a personality and manner that made
countless friends. Though she was a tender and overburdened woman, she had a
gentle, loving disposition, but with a determination like steel. She worked
firmly facing apathy and other appalling odds while working for the prosperity
of the prisoners and mentally ill, and she never once failed.
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“Dorothea Dix Hospital serves as the regional psychiatric hospital for the
16-county South Central Region of the Department of Health and Human Services.
In collaboration with community-based mental health programs, we provide
evaluation, treatment and rehabilitative services for the mentally ill.
Neurological, as well as medical and surgical services are provided upon
referral from other state facilities in the North Central, Eastern, and South
Central regions. In addition, we provide specialized treatment to mentally ill
deaf and hard of hearing patients from across the state.”(SERVICES GUIDE TO
DOROTHEA DIX HOSPITAL)
During treatment at Dorothea Dix Hospital, a patient retains his or her rights
as provided for and protected by state and federal law. Each hospital staff
member wants to ensure that patients are accorded such care, treatment and
privileges that enhance one's dignity, promotes one's welfare, and protects
one's rights.
A patient at Dorothea Dix Hospital has the right to:
• be free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex,
age or handicap.
• Live as normally as possible in a safe, aesthetic and humane environment that
preserves your dignity and privacy while meeting your basic health and hygiene
needs.
• be free from corporal punishment, abuse, neglect or exploitation by staff.
• Be considered legally competent and exercise all civil rights, including
disposal of property, voting, marrying, etc. unless you are a minor or have been
adjudicated incompetent by a court according to state law. Communicate and
consult with legal counsel and private physicians of your choice and at your own
expense.
• Consult with the Patients' Advocate located in the hospital at (919) 733-9840.
• Send and receive sealed, uncensored mail, with the exception of Forensic
Division patients.
• Receive payment for work done of value to the facility with the exception of
limited housekeeping duties in your personal living space.
• Register to vote or update your voter registration while receiving inpatient
treatment at Dorothea Dix Hospital.
• Present any ethical issue related to your care for review.
• Receive appropriate evaluation and treatment in the least restrictive
environment.
• Seek resolution of dissatisfaction with any aspect of your hospitalization by
filing a grievance according to the Standards of Clinical Practice Policy.
Dorothea Lynde Dix was born on April 4, in 1802. She was the eldest of the three
siblings. Her father was a missionary. When the British took over Hampden in the
War of 1812, Dix took shelter in Vermont immediately. Her family life was full
of turbulence. Even though her family wasn't the best she experienced many
things from her father that would affect many of her preferences in life.
Despite an unpleasant early life she was capable enough to be able to use her
early experiences productively all through her two careers and, above all, to
build an extraordinary mannerism. Fortunately, her wealthy grandmother took
Dorothea under her wings and later, thanks to her determination, provided
Dorothea with an ample thrust to work. Subsequently, Dix's life was honestly
devoted for the service of others. Her exploratory surveys of the impoverished
insane, undertaken when she was in her 30s, gradually developed geographically
and philosophically into her first career, during which she was instrumental in
the passage of many state laws, in the building of asylums, and in flourishing
awareness among politicians and common people. Her second career saw her take
burden of female nurses for the Union at the time of the Civil War.
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By the time she was thirty-five-years-old, she was already a teacher, having her
own school for girls in Boston, and hence became well to do in terms of money.
She also wrote books equipped for children. Dorothea was a woman who entrusted
herself completely toward her work, and as a result got sick from exhaustion
which led to several ailments. In 1836 she became seriously ill and traveled to
England to recuperate her health. She recovered eighteen months later and
returned to the United States.
At the age of 14 she started teaching, ultimately teaching children, as well as
her brothers, in the Dix villa. Eager to help indigent girls in the community,
she opened an afternoon school for them in the Dix villa. Her main emphasis was
invariably in the formation of character, high morals, and a religious faith
rooted on a joyous concept of helping God’s people with a firm awareness of
duty. Dorothea was resolute enough to carry on her mission, despite the fact
that her health was deteriorating. This experience opened up a life's work for
her, as she unearthed women who were in cold, filthy jails. These women were in
these prison cells merely because they were insane. She felt it was a calling
from God, to be the voice of these impoverished women and procure improved
surroundings for the mentally ill.
She presented her plea in East Cambridge court on behalf of mentally ill. Her
proposal was accepted that gave her encouragement to investigate other jails and
find out the condition of the mentally ill. It took her eighteen months to visit
all the jails in the cities and towns in Massachusetts. Consequently, as a
result other states asked her to come to help with the very problem that was
prevailing.
There are few cases in history where a social movement of such dimension can be
credited to the work of a sole individual. Dorothea Lynde Dix was a woman who
attained much in her life. She was primarily a teacher and next a social
reformer for the care of the mentally ill. In her life her goals were not
defined, but she honestly did whatever would help people. She initiated a change
in the mental institutions of United States. She had covered half of the United
States and Europe investigating institutions for harm caused by them by the time
she was fifty-four. In duration of fifteen years this woman did more than most
people do in a lifetime.
“Dix, Dorothea Lynde, 1802–87, American social reformer, pioneer in the movement
for humane treatment of the insane, b. Hampden, Maine. For many years she ran a
school in Boston. In 1841 she visited a jail in East Cambridge, Mass., and was
shocked at conditions there, especially the indiscriminate mixing of criminals
and the insane. After inspecting other Massachusetts institutions, she wrote
(1842) a famous memorandum to the state legislature. Her crusade resulted in the
founding of state hospitals for the insane in many states, and her influence was
felt in Canada and Europe. Dix also did notable work in penology. During the
Civil War she was superintendent of women war nurses.” (Dix, Dorothea Lynde)
Not only did her deeds spark instant response; her changes are till now felt
with the way mental patients are treated. This one woman achieved much for
mankind within her lifespan. During the 1840's she became a well known speaker
and political activist who did her work for the benefit of the mentally
afflicted. She was asked to read the bible at a prison for women. After that
visit, she was stunned at the surrounding of the prison. She observed that the
prisoners didn't have clothes and basic amenities of life. Some were even
handcuffed and were beaten irrespective of their age or gender. The prisoners
were locked up in dark cages, cabinets and cellars and were left to starve till
death. The mentally ill were treated like animals. Her fight for rights of
prisoners paid off in the form of state hospitals for the insane. She wandered
all over the United States to visit the psychological ill. In almost each state
she raised money that was allocated to hospitals for the paranoiac. She took a
giant leap in her cause that resulted in many more hospitals for the mentally
ill.
“-Dorothea Dix discovered the mentally ill were treated like criminals. Dorothea
Dix worked to change things for the mentally ill in Massachusetts as she
reported to the Massachusetts legislature of the conditions under which the
mentally ill were forced to live. She also petitioned Congress for money to help
care for the mentally ill.” (Helping People with Handicaps) At the time of
the Civil War, Dorothea Dix was acknowledged the first Superintendent of Army
Nurses. She entirely reversed the perception of how some people felt about
mentally ill. She confided certain specific laws and changed the lives of the
doctors and nurses that she worked with. At nearly 60 years old and suffering
from malaria she never missed a day to coordinate with the women who wanted to
help and gather money for supplies. She validated her points in speeches at a
time when women were thought to be inept of speaking.
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“In April, 1854, in consequence of her unwearied exertions and petitions that
she presented to congress in 1848 and 1850, a bill passed both houses
appropriating 10,000,000 acres to the several states for the relief of the
indigent insane: but the bill was vetoed by President Pierce, on the ground that
the general government had no constitutional power to make such appropriations.
During the civil war she was superintendent of hospital nurses, having the
entire control of their appointment and assignment to duty. After its close she
resumed her labors for the insane. Miss Dix published anonymously "The Garland
of Flora" (Boston, 1829), and "Conversations about Common Things," "Alice and
Ruth," "Evening Hours," and other books for children; also, " Prisons and Prison
Discipline " (Boston, 1845); and a variety of tracts for prisoners. She is also
the author of many memorials to legislative bodies on the subject of lunatic
asylums and reports on philanthropic subjects.” (Educator)
Dorothea was an intelligent public servant. First she would amass information,
investigating and acquiring information about a certain establishment, and then
she would practically promulgate the abuse and violation of the mentally ill
housed in institutions. Dorothea was an instrumental woman in the early 19th
century. Her relationship with the president of the United States was very
influential to her motive. President Millard Fillmore met Dorothea and found her
to be an awesome warm and tender towards mentally ill. He complemented her as a
loyal friend of the mentally ill. Millard Fillmore backed her cause by
supporting her in her humane efforts.
“In 1841, when she was nearly 40, she reached a turning point in her life.
Teaching a Sunday school class for women in the East Cambridge jail, she
realized that a number of the inmates had committed only one “crime”: they were
mentally ill. Angered by what she saw, she brought the matter to a local court.
Although her charges were denied, the women’s living conditions were improved.
There were a few institutions, which provided humane treatment for the insane,
but they were the exceptions. Most people who suffered from mental illness lived
in harsh conditions either at home, in prisons, or in poorhouses. Dix devoted
the rest of her life to changing this; with single-minded fervor, she became the
“voice for the mad.” She began by surveying every jail, poorhouse, and house of
correction in Massachusetts. In January 1843, she delivered a lengthily and
dramatic report to the state legislature. With the support of several
influential men, she succeeded in persuading the legislature to appropriate
money to expand the state hospital for the insane at Worcester.”
She persuaded skeptic military officials that women could perform the work of a
nurse in the military in a fitting manner. Her strive for female nurses paid off
and finally nurses were recruited in the military. Battling the widespread
stereo types-and accepting many of the common prejudices, Dix standardized to
assure that her ranks not be overwhelmed with marriage-minded young women, by
only accepting candidates who were older than 30. In addition, Dix approved a
dress code of modest black or brown skirts and forbade hoops and any form of
jewelry. Even with these demanding stipulations, a total of over 3,000 women
served as Union army nurses. Frequently called ‘Dragon Dix’ she was firm and
outspoken, opposing often the military regime and at times omitting
jurisdictional details. Despite of this, army-nursing care was noticeably
improving under her influence. Dix looked after the welfare of both the nurses,
who labored in a regularly rough environment, and the soldiers to whom they
cared for, obtaining medical supplies from private whereabouts when they were
not upcoming from the government. At the war's conclusion, Dix returned to her
work for the support of mentally ill.
The accepted thought was that the insane would never be cured and living within
the appalling surroundings was not so harsh for them. However Dorothea, just by
bettering the conditions of the inmates, and manifested that people with mental
illness are all curable. Once she had succeeded in changing the perceptions of
the general public, she traveled to other states and continued with the same
process of healing the mentally ill. Her far-reaching travel to jails in
different states, watchful descriptions of conditions in jails and preparation
of a presentable document proved successful. Although her health was very poor,
she succeeded in covering every state that lied on the east side of the
Mississippi River. In all she played a significant role in setting up 32 mental
hospitals, 15 schools for the feeble minded children, a school for the blind,
and numberless training facilities for nurses. Her drive was an indirect
stimulus for the building of many additional institutions for the mentally ill.
She was also instrumental in setting up libraries in prisons, mental hospitals
and other institutions. After accomplishing much, she intended to go after her
dream in 1848. She sent a document to the United States Congress pleading that
five million acres be set aside and to be operated as charitable institutions
for the care of the mentally ill. However, with this request she was way in
front of her time by inspiring a position for the national government in the
care of the impaired mentally ill. In 1854 the bill passed and was sanctioned by
both houses but was vetoed by President Franklin Pierce. She traveled to Europe
to carry out her mission in servicing the mentally ill.
She wrote the historical book “Asylum, Prison and Poorhouse the Writings and
Reform Work”. This book outlines the vision. Dorothea Dix had for the attainment
of her mission. This collection of illustrated newspaper articles and memorials
by Dorothea Dix furnish a forum for the great mid-nineteenth-century
humanitarian and activist to speak for herself. Beginning in the early 1840s,
she initiated a personal fight to induce several states to provide humane care
and sufficient treatment for the mentally ill by funding specialized hospitals
for that intent. The appalling conditions experienced by most mentally ill
inmates in prisons, jails, and poorhouses led her to take an eager interest also
in prison reform and in efforts to remove poverty. In 1846-47 Dix brought her
operations to Illinois. She dispensed with two lengthy memorials to the
legislature, the first illustrating conditions at the state penitentiary at
Alton and the second discussing the pain of the insane and pushing the
establishment of a state hospital for their care. She also wrote a series of
newspaper articles detailing surroundings in the jails and poorhouses of many
Illinois communities. These long-forgotten documents, which appear in unabridged
form in this book, embody a wealth of information on the living conditions of
some of the most unfortunate inhabitants of Illinois. This book outlines some of
the most vivid images that come forth from Dorothea Dix's descriptions of
appalling conditions in Illinois prison a century ago.
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“Dorothea Dix and Clara Barton were the leaders of a national effort to organize
a nursing corps to care for the war's wounded and sick. Dix was already
recognized for her work in improving the treatment received by the insane when
she began to recruit women to serve as nurses in the Army Medical Bureau.
Military traditionalists opposed her, but she prevailed, armed with an
indomitable will and a singleness of purpose. One of the standards that Dix
established for her nurses was that they should be "plain looking" and
middle-aged. "In those days it was considered indecorous for angels of mercy to
appear otherwise than gray-haired and spectacled," explained one you young lady
rejected by Dix. "Such a thing as a hospital corps of comely young maiden
nurses, possessing grace and good looks, was then unknown." Recruits nicknamed
her "Dragon Dix," but it was a badge of honor id it indicated what it took to
succeed in creating the army's first professional nursing corps.”
(Civil War Nurses)
Conclusion
She was first and foremost who pushed the government to build state hospitals
for the mentally ill in the United States. In her life, she was inconspicuous
with her work to say the least. She did not take credit on most of her
publications. She disallowed to have hospitals named after her. She refused to
talk about her deeds and attainments and wanted them to rest in silence.
“Broken down into five parts, the book deals with women who played a role of
some sort during the War between the States. Although there are women who most
people who have read up on the period will have heard of, such as Belle Boyd,
Dorothea Dix, Rose Greenhow and Mary Walker, there are many others who are not
so well known. Women such as Phoebe Pember, Katharine Prescott Wormeley and Mary
Ann Ball Bickerdye, have their war stories and contributions told within the
pages of this fascinating book. Along with those who contributed to the war
effort with skills medical or espionage, there are those who picked up a
different weapon - the pen. Amongst those in this category are Harriet Beecher
Stowe, Julia Ward Howe and Louisa May Alcott.” (Webb Garrison)
In his book Webb Garrison has been careful not to get into North and South
battles! He takes each lady on her own merit with what she contributed to the
war effort. Where the evidence of her involvement is somewhat hazy, as in the
story of Barbara Frietchie, he is clear to point out that the story is coloured
by years of local belief as opposed to facts about what really happened. Each
profile is told in a lively way that lets you see a little of the person who
kicked against the inactivity expected of females of the day. The only person in
the book who I am not sure earned her place is Mary Custis Lee. Reading her
story alongside those of her heroic, selfless or just plain determined peers
left me whether she was only there for balance against Julia Dent Grant
She fell ill at the age of 80 when she retired, but still wrote letters to
advocate her fight for the insane. She died on July seventeenth in 1887, in a
hospital in Trenton, New Jersey, that she had herself founded. Through the
entire endeavor for the mentally ill, she was recognized for her
accomplishments, influence, good reputation, firmness, independence, conviction,
and the way that she succeeded and took purpose of the life she had. At her
funeral the clergyman spoke briefly and fittingly from the Bible: "I was
hungered, and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a
stranger, and ye took me in, naked, and ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye
visited me; I was in prison and ye came unto me."
References
Services Guide To Dorothea Dix Hospital http://www.dhhs.state.nc.us/mhddsas/DIX/handbook.html
Dix, Dorothea Lynde http://www.factmonster.com/ce6/people/A0815680.html
Helping People With Handicaps, HOKANSON'S UNITED STATES HISTORY
http://www.svjhs.lcsd2.org/nhokanson/history/12.html
Dorothea Dix, (1802 – 1887), Educator http://virtualmuseumofhistory.com/hallofwomen/DOROTHEADIX.COM/
http://www.mfh.org/specialprojects/shwlp/site/honorees/dix.html
Civil War Nurses, “The Angels of the Battlefield” http://www.civilwarhome.com/civilwarnurses.htm
Garrison, Webb, BOOK REVIEW - Amazing Women of the Civil War, Author: Katie Anne
Gustafsson Published on: December 24, 2000 http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/womens_history/55395
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