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

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Best Specimen Tyrant The of a The Ambitious Dr. Abraham Van Norstrand and the Wisconsin Insane Hospital THOMAS DOHERTY University of Iowa Press Iowa City BestSpecimen Tyrant The of a University of Iowa Press, Iowa City 52242 Copyright © 2007 by Thomas Doherty First University of Iowa Press edition 2013 www.uiowapress.org Printed in the United States of America Design by Jennifer Bottcher No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means without permission in writing from the publisher. All reasonable steps have been taken to contact copyright holders of material used in this book. The publisher would be pleased to make suitable arrangements with any whom it has not been possible to reach. Photographs of Abraham Van Norstrand and his son courtesy Neville Public Museum of Brown County. All other photographs courtesy the Wisconsin Historical Society. The University of Iowa Press is a member of Green Press Initiative and is committed to preserving natural resources. Printed on acid-free paper Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Doherty, Thomas. The best specimen of a tyrant: the ambitious Dr. Abraham Van Norstrand and the Wisconsin Insane Hospital / Thomas Doherty.—1st University of Iowa Press ed. 2013. p. cm. Originally published: Madison, Wis.: Spenser-Hoyt, c2007. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN-13: 978-1-60938-146-2, ISBN-10: 1-60938-146-7 (pbk) ISBN-13: 978-1-60938-161-5, ISBN-10: 1-60938-161-0 (e-book) 1. Van Norstrand, Abraham, 1825–1883. 2. Physicians—Wisconsin—Biography. 3. Wisconsin State Hospital for the Insane—History. 4. Psychiatric hospitals— Wisconsin—History—19th century. 5. Businessmen—Wisconsin—Biography. I. Title. R154.V356D64 2013 362.2'109775—dc23 2012024073 In democratic times enjoyments are more intense than in the ages of aristocracy, and the number of those who partake in them is vastly greater; but, on the other hand, it must be admitted that man’s hopes and desires are oftener blasted, the soul is more stricken and perturbed, and care itself more keen. . . . Complaints are made in France that the number of suicides increases; in America suicide is rare, but insanity is said to be more common there than anywhere else. —alexis de tocqueville, Democracy in America ...