Vanves

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In 1879, a forty-five-year-old father and husband only known as MC is brought into Dr. Jules Cotard's office in Vanves, just outside of Paris.

For years, MC, who's described as healthy and strong, has lived what Cotard calls a regular and industrious life.

He has no vices except he works far too much.

They also utilized things like straitjackets and restraining chairs, which was a big step away from violence, even though it was still a bit unethical, and they would administer bromides and opiates for sedation in the earliest forms of psychopharmaceuticals.

This was also a time when electrotherapy existed, but it wasn't well understood yet.

As for Cotard and his patients, he actually worked at a private asylum in Vanves, just outside of Paris.

So the population was probably a bit smaller and wealthier than your typical public asylums.