Views from Venice

I am delighted that Tessa Richards enjoyed her visit to San Servolo
in the Venetian lagoon. As she states the island did once serve a
psychiatric purpose. Up to 1797 the lunatics of the city and the adjoining
terra firma were accommodated in barges in the lagoon. Then the females
were transferred to accommodation adjoining the Scuola S. Rocco with its
Tinterettos and the males were transferred to the island where they were
looked after by the Padri Ospitalieri di San Giovanni. A fascinating
account of a visit there by the Scottish psychiatrist Dr. C. Lockhart
Robertson was published in the Asylum Journal (now British Journal of
Psychiatry) in January 1858 p 222. He was very impressed at what he saw -
the premises were "fitted with a style and abundance which I have never
seen equalled in any of our English asylums, the case-books and registers
all beautifully kept, and everything in the highest order". A pity then
that Nick Fahy, Tessa's co-participant, should refer to political
"schizophrenia" in conversation with her. I'm sure the good Fathers winced
in their island tombs at the use of that word colloquially.

Competing interests:
None declared