Experiencing the Asylum

Abstract Here (and in Chapter 9 ), we shift our gaze to the asylum experience of pellagra, focusing on Venice’s two insane asylums: San Servolo (for men) and Clemente women). The chapters are organised around ‘life cycle’ male female sufferers at from local referral admission, through treatment, ending either with release back into community or death. Being photographed upon admission became a standard part patient shall see how photograph clinical tool. photographic record can help us restore agency experience. Who were pellagrous represented these sometimes harrowing photographs? What typology tell about nature disease it compares ‘regular’ non-pellagrous insanity? To answer questions look gendering insanity, as well other factors such age, social status geographical origins, before turning treatments offered—diet, medicines work-related activities—and notion ‘curability’.