A Sketch of the Life of Elizabeth T. Stone and of Her Persecutions: With an Appendix of Her Treatment and Sufferings While in the Charlestown McLean Assylum, Where She Was Confined Under the Pretence of InsanityStone, Elizabeth T.
Religion
A Sketch of the Life of Elizabeth T. Stone and of Her Persecutions: With an Appendix of Her Treatment and Sufferings While in the Charlestown McLean Assylum, Where She Was Confined Under the Pretence of Insanity
Stone, Elizabeth T.
McLean Hospital; Mental illness -- Personal narratives; Stone, Elizabeth T., 1811-
I am frequently asked the question, by those who hear of my sufferings,
if I don't think I shall be happy after death. I will answer this here
so every one may know what my dreadful situation is.--No! for reasons
before stated.
At the request of many of my friends, I have been examined by a
magnetized somnambulist, and I am requested to state the result of the
examination to the public. I was examined the first time by Mr. Fowler,
the Phrenologist, taking a lock of my hair to Miss Gleason. She stated
that I had great distress in the back part of my head, my spinal marrow
was dry; distress in my limbs, inclined to sit forwards; disagreable
feeling at my stomach; nervous temperament; needed kind treatment, &c.
The 15th of July I was examined again by Miss Gleason, being personally
present. She was magnetized by Mr. Butrick, a stranger to me. I did not
go into the room till after she was asleep. She stated about the same
as she did the first time, but added that my brain looked dark; that I
had been in such distress it was a wonder I had lived through it; and
I still was in distress; my brain was drawn together and she clenched
her hands together in order to convey the idea; she remarked upon
my disposition, being very decided in my opinion; an enquiring mind,
desiring to labor with my head rather than my hands, which had incensed
my relations against me; and it would have been better for me if they
had put me into the grave alive than carried me to the Hospital. If I
had never been carried there I should not have been as I am now; for
the future I could not labor with my head. If I published my sufferings
to the world it would not be believed because I could not now use
language to express myself. She thought it would be investigated.
July 23d, I was examined in public by Mrs. Pease, at the Masonic Hall,
who was with Mr. Shattuck lecturing on Magnetism. I was an entire
stranger to them both. She stated that I was nervous, distressed in
the back part of my head; that some powerful mineral medicine had been
given to me, which had injured me; that I had been cruelly deceived.
She described the medicine to be pills and a liquid, very dark and
some colored resembling saffron; that it had injured my brain, and it
never ought to have been given to me; and I had been injured by unkind
treatment; my ambition led me to go beyond my strength in labor and
reading, and _that_ medicine ought not to be given to any one, &c. Many
were present who had heard of my sufferings and were surprised to hear
her tell it so exactly. May God bring to light this awful crime, for
my sufferings do not end in this world, although the crime was done by
others.
In conclusion, before this work is attributed to insanity why will not
the public demand an examination of the affairs and management of the
Mc'Lean Assylum, and see whether my charges be true or false.
ERRATA.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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