Insane Asylum

Many early doctors believed that sunstroke could cause traumatic insanity. They thought it was due to inflammation caused by the great heat of the sun, but also considered it possible that anyone working in a hot environment–like cooks–could fall victim to it. If a mental patient seemed to have no congenital or hereditary reasons for idiocy or dementia, his or her condition was sometimes attributed to sunstroke in childhood or infancy.

Early insanity from sunstroke typically presented itself in an unsteady gait, optimism, and delusions of exaltation. Chronic, non-progressive sunstroke insanity had other symptoms, like sudden suspicions and one or two fixed delusions. Often patients would become violent and be sent to an asylum.

In reality, sunstroke occurs when the body becomes overheated and can’t cool itself–it is a life-threatening condition that can lead to death and organ damage if not immediately treated. Sunstroke can kill its victims several weeks after the event, usually as a result of heart and liver problems.

Arkansas State Lunatic Asylum

Northampton State Lunatic Asylum

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