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The History of Psychiatry

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

J. L. T. Birley*
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AF

Extract

I am not a historian, a mere dabbler in history, but the figures of the past have always intrigued me. Psychiatry lives in the shadow of the 19th century, both in terms of its architecture and of its theories. It is not too difficult to give oneself déjà vu feelings about psychiatry, and to see its ‘progress' as a circular tour. But what of it ? In that way we revisit all sorts of old friends, provided we meet them as they really were, and not as dusty images, mouldering statues, ancient deities or foolish fond old men.

Type
Reading about
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1978 

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