Ways of managing madness during the First Republic: the case of the state of Espírito Santo

Abstract

The article explores the creation of institutions for managing madness and the 'mad' under the First Republic. By focusing specifically on the state of Espírito Santo, it analyzes how the government designed policies for dealing with the mad and asks whether this particular state's experience can validate hypotheses defended for the nation as a whole. The study also aims to demonstrate the complex relations between madness, society, medicine, and the State. A main discussion point is the process by which medicine was transformed into hegemonic knowledge and practice used to justify and validate government guardianship of the mad.