12 Comments Posted by DavidJ

I actually owned a restored Hallat and Davis back in the 70s only it was a grand.

Absolutely fascinating. I wonder where she is now.

It's interesting that right now on InSession (formerly Courttv) is an arson/murder case wherin the defendant is extremely mentally disturbed. The crime occurred 10 years ago and in testimony by psychiatrists it turns out the defendant was detained for observation in this very hospital. Must have been shortly before closing.

I think this is a beautiful mural. No doubt the work of patient. Mr. Motts you should photograph a comprehensive compilation of the famous murals at King's Park. I believe they are on a lower floor in Bldg. 93. There has been a lot of community interest in them They don't presently have the funds needed to preserve them. There are no hints as to who the artist was or when they were painted but it is believed they predate 1955. This is because the subjects seem to be in despair and psychotropics weren't introduced until '55.

I still believe that ECT is a barbaric, worhtless practice. I think patients were actually frightened into behaving in a desired fashion rather than that the "treatments" were actually beneficial. That's why the "positive'" effects were at best temporary. Yeah, today they use sedatives. I think this is because of the guilt the practitioners would otherwise feel in a modern world. The whole idea of shocking a person into normalcy I think is a stupid, elememtary idea and I wish it were made illegal and all those subjected to it had legal recourse against any quack sadist that used/uses it.

DME - agreed. The NAACP wouldn't have anything to do with such a case but the ACLU just might.

Those glass blocks are actually very expensive nowadys.

There was a copy of this very painting in my elementary school in New York City.

Hi - As far as electroshock treatnent still being used today, it is totally different. The voltages applied are minute compared to the tortuous amounts applied in the old days. Nonetheless I am very skeptical as to how beneficial such a simple and somewhat barbaric an idea like electroshock is. I happen to be a depressive and am treated quite successfully with modern meds. I would NEVER allow myself to be subjevted to any shock therapy under any circumstances.

I'm so sorry - I just realized I mispelled Gennie's name.

I don't normally subscribe to the eye-for-an-eye mentality but in Jenny's case I defer...May God rest her soul.

Hi Motts - I have just discovered your sites and I find them beautiful and fascinating. As far as this pic goes, I am not normally superstitious or afraid of the dark but nothing could get me to enter that place.