2019/01/01 by Monika Ankele, Ankele, Monika
Arts and Humanities · Medicine · Psychology · #20th Century #Historical Psychiatry and Medical Practices #Historical Studies on Reproduction, Gender, Health, and Societal Changes #Material Culture Studies #Medicine and Dermatology Studies History #Nursing History #Nursing Practices #Patient's History #Prolonged Bath #Psychiatry #Treatment Method
paper · doi:10.25974/enhe2020-10en
openalex publication_date 2019/01/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/01
When “prolonged” or “permanent” baths were introduced as a treatment in psychiatric institutions around 1900, special treatment rooms had to be created that utilised medical knowledge of the time (hydrotherapy) and technically progressive features (running water). The nurses, who were co-agents in the treatment regimens, had a high level of responsibility for the patients, as serious accidents repeatedly occurred in the prolonged baths. Technical apparatus was gradually installed and material adaptations were made to the rooms that served to lighten the nurses’ workload. This article examines the influence the material configuration of the bathroom had on nursing practice and also explores which insights can be drawn for current issues in nursing ethics.