The Best Specimen of a Tyrant: The Ambitious Dr. Abraham Van Norstrand and the Wisconsin Insane Hospital

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The narrative follows Dr. Abraham Van Norstrand, an emerging figure in the transformative "Hospital Movement," which aimed to revolutionize mental health care by curing the insane. His journey illustrates the tension between ambitious hopes and the difficult realities faced by public mental hospitals, highlighting the challenges and limitations that have historically plagued the mental health system. Van Norstrand’s experiences serve as a lens to explore the complexities of mental health reform and the societal perceptions of insanity.