Have you ever heard the story of the Swiss man who was considered so crazy that he was locked up in an insane asylum for 15 months in 1930? It’s an interesting and somewhat humorous tale, and one that gives insight into Switzerland’s treatment of mental health that isn’t seen so often in modern times.
The man in question was Collin Mather, a Swiss citizen who was born in Switzerland in 1908. He was described by many as a “wild man” and often acted strange or outlandishly. Eventually, after numerous run-ins with the law, Collin was declared mentally ill and locked up in an insane asylum in the mountainous countryside of Switzerland.
He was kept there for 15 months, where he was forced to perform strenuous labor in order to “tame” his “wildness”. This tactic may seem overly harsh by today’s standards, but it was not that uncommon of a practice for Switzerland at that time.
Fortunately, Collin was eventually released in 1932 and went on to live a long and healthy life in Switzerland. The experience, however, had left him with lifelong trauma and he often spoke of the horrid conditions of the institution. In fact, Collin’s story was eventually adapted into a book called “The Rat Man of Switzerland”, outlining the institutionalization of “lunatics” in Switzerland during that era.
It’s a fascinating and humorous story, and one that paints an interesting picture of mental health in 1930s Switzerland. Of course, there have been lots of advances in the treatment of mental illness in recent times, but for any student of Swiss culture and history, Collin’s tale stands out as an insightful look into the past.
Collin Mather’s story of being institutionalized in a Swiss sanitorium for 15 months in 1930 is a unique and captivating one. His experiences and the conditions of the hospital can teach us an important lesson about the importance of understanding and treating mental illnesses with the utmost care and respect – something that has thankfully been a growing priority in more recent decades.
For a lighthearted yet humbling look into the realities of psychiatric care in the 1930s, look no further than the wild tale of Collin Mather.
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