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CONGRESS Geel, 12 & 13 May 2005
Who visited Geel?
An analysis of the Registre des permis de visiter
ltablissementProf. Dr. Akira Hashimoto, Aichi Prefectural
University (Japan)
Geel visitors from all over the world
This study analyzed the register book for Geel Colony visitors
from 1892 to 1935 (Registre
des permis de visiter ltablissement). The Geel Colony, one of
the most famous psychiatric
institutions in the world, attracted many foreign visitors and
has been described inpsychiatric journals and books as an ideal
village. In the period from 1892 to 1935, 901
people visited the colony (excluding some group visitors like
students near Geel whose
number is unclear). Of these 901 visitors, the nationalities of
818 are known: 306 were from
Belgium and 512 were from other countries. Of the 512 foreign
visitors, most were from
Europe (78%), followed by North America (11%) and Central and
South America (6%)
[Fig.1]. There were two peak periods for foreign visitors. The
first peak was from 1901 to
1905, and the second was from 1931 to 1935.
The contexts of the visit: Germany and USA
The contexts of the visit, however, differed. The first peak was
marked by a great number of
visitors from Germany. At the beginning of the 20th Century,
psychiatric reform was
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
1892-1895
1896-1900
1901-1905
1906-1910
1911-1915
1916-1920
1921-1925
1926-1930
1931-1935
year
Number of visitors
Germany USA
[Fig. 2]Geel visitors from Germany and USA[Fig. 1] 512 foreign
visitors
North America (11%)
Central & SouthAmerica (6%)
Asia (4%)Africa &Oceania (1%)
6 (persons)
54
31
18
Europe (78%)403 (persons)
In Europe (78%) , 19 visitorsfrom Russia are included.
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CONGRESS Geel, 12 & 13 May 2005
The Japanese visitors
The changing contexts of Geel visits were reflected also in the
Japanese who visited
including the prominent psychiatrists Shuzo Kure in 1901, and
Tsuneo Muramatsu in 1935.
Kure, who studied from 1897 to 1901 in Austria and Germany, was
influenced by the
interests and enthusiasm of the German-speaking psychiatrists of
that time. On the other
hand, Muramatsus visit was inspired by the mental hygiene
movement in the United
States, where he studied from 1933 to 1935.
According to the register book, Shuzo Kure (1865-1932) visited
Geel in 1901[Fig.3]. He was on the way to
Japan after finishing his 4 years study in Europe. Then, from
1901 to 1925, he was professor of psychiatry
at the University of Tokyo.
In the register book a letter of Clifford W. Beers, founder of
mental hygiene movement in the United States,
is attached[Fig.4]. Beers introduced Tsuneo Muramatsu (1900
-1981) to Dr. Sano, director of Geel Colony.
Muramatsu was engaged in promoting mental hygiene in Japan.
[Fig. 3] Document of Kure [Fig. 4]Document of Muramatsu
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CONGRESS Geel, 12 & 13 May 2005
512 foreign visitors (1892-1935)
Austria (16)
Algeria (1)
Argentina (3)
Australia (1)
Brazil (6)
Bulgaria (1)Canada (4)
Switz.(18)
China (1)
Chile (7)
Colombia (2)
Cuba (2)
Czech/Slovakia (9)
Germany (65)
Denmark (9)
Dominica (1)
Spain (19)
France (53)
Finland (7)
UK (51)
Hungary (10)
Italy (15)
India (4)
Indonesia (1)
Ireland (9)
Japan (8)
Lux.(2)
Mexico (1)
New Zealand (1)
Neth.(65)
Norway (11)
Paraguay (1)
Philippines (4)
Poland (12)
Portugal (1)
Rumania (3)
Russia (19)
South Africa (3)
Sweden (8)
Uruguay (8)
USA (50)
From 1892 to 1935, 901 people visited the Geel
colony (excluding some group visitors like
students near Geel whose number is unclear). Of
these 901 visitors, the nationalities of 818 are
known: 306 were from Belgium and 512 were from
other countries.
Reference
Country (number of visitors)
