REPOST: GM fb, I feel the need to share. This was actually taken from one of my text books on abnormal psychology. I am sure your mouths will be hanging open after reading this. When the slave trade was active in the U.S., slaves who tried to escape their masters could be diagnosed as having drapetomania, a SICKNESS, that caused them to desire freedom. This diagnosis provided a justification for capturing them and returning them to their masters. In 1851, Dr. Samuel Cartwright, a prominent physician, published an essay in the prestigious New Orleans Medical and Surgical Journal entitled “Report on the Diseases and Physical Peculiarities of the Negro Race, in which he argued that: the cause, in most cases, that induces the Negro to run away from service – SERVICE – is as much a disease of the mind as any other species of mental alienation, and much more curable, as a general rule. With the advantages of proper medical advice, strictly followed, this troublesome practice that many Negros have of running away can be almost entirely prevented. Cartwright also described a disease called dysaesthesia Aethiopis, or the refusal to work for one’s master. To cure this “disease”, Cartwright prescribed the following: The liver, skin and kidneys should be stimulated to activity, and be made to assist in decarbonizing the blood. The best means to stimulate the skin is, first, to have the patient well washed with warm water and soap; then to anoint IT all over with oil, and to slap the oil with a broad leather strap; then to put the patient to some hard kind of work in the open air and sunshine, that will compel him to expand his lungs, as chopping wood, splitting rails, or sawing with the cross-cut or whip saw. According to Cartwright, whipping slaves who refused to work and then forcing them to do hard labor would “REVITALIZE” their lungs and bring them back to their senses. We might like to believe that Cartwright’s essay represented the extreme views of one person, but he was writing on behalf of a prestigious medical association. This so unbelievable – the ignorance – of so-called great minds, when I read this I was so appalled I could not believe it – but here it is a little known Black history fact. What to you think?
Posted on: Sat, 08 Jun 2013 19:11:39 +0000
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