Two Years and Four Months in a Lunatic Asylum: From August 20th, 1863 to December 20th, 1865

A personal narrative written in the late 19th century. The book recounts the author’s harrowing experiences as a patient in a lunatic asylum in Utica, New York, shedding light on the oppressive conditions and treatment of mental health patients during that era. Chase illustrates his journey from being a respected minister to becoming an unwitting inmate, highlighting the misconceptions surrounding mental illness and the brutal realities of institutional life. The opening of the narrative begins with a preface in which Hiram Chase outlines the reasons for documenting his asylum experiences, aiming to reveal the truths about such institutions which were often misunderstood by society. He reflects on his previous ignorance about asylums, recounting his sudden decline into a state of mental distress triggered by various stressors, ultimately leading to his forced commitment. As he describes his feelings of despair, confusion, and incredulity at being confined with individuals labeled as ''insane,'' the reader is drawn into the psychological and emotional turmoil he endured during his two years and four months at the asylum.