The Horror of Overbrook Insane Asylum American Asylums
Summary
This episode chronicles the grim history of Overbrook Asylum in New Jersey, tracing its decline from a hopeful 19th-century institution to a site of severe neglect and abuse. It details specific tragedies, including the 1917 freezing of 24 patients, lethal force-feeding incidents, and the 1925 escape of a violent inmate who committed murder. The narrative also covers the devastating impact of the Great Depression and World War II, which led to extreme overcrowding and the use of brutal treatments like lobotomies and insulin comas. Finally, the story concludes with the asylum's closure in 20…
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