Can you believe that it was a crime for disabled people to appear in public, out of concern that the public would be disgusted by their condition? Such laws were common in America, and were called "Ugly Laws" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ugly_law
This explains why Franklin Roosevelt hid his disability from Americans. He would have been violating the law in many places, if he had appeared in public with a wheel chair.
But we should not be too judgmental in how we view our ancestors. They would be shocked that we celebrate Dr. Gosnell and abortion on demand.
I’m going to be in trouble over this.
Why wasn’t it also mentioned that at one time here, doctors HAD to steal corpses to study actual anatomy? This article speaks of a time when people died from the infection of a small cut. Each year, schoolchildren DIED from “simple childhood diseases”. Not a single patient survived clogged arteries.
I grew up in these years (30’s,40’s etc) and recall that every school year a classmate died, of POLIO, whooping cough, scarlet fever, mumps, and a long category of diseases totally unheard of TODAY.
Less than 100 years ago, hundreds of thousands died from a strain of FLU. Today chain drugstores boast signs that invite you in for a FLU shot.
Back then it was a totally different world. How different? When I was eight and had tonsils removed, the Doctor had to reserve the operating room for a certain time. That time was long enough that he threw in a tonsillectomy for my kid brother for an extra TEN dollars.
That was then....we live in the NOW.
One of the first things I noticed when I moved to Switzerland. No disabled in public. Elevators barely big enough for one person. No way for wheelchairs to get down from curbs or over cobblestones. Tiny bathrooms.
I asked where the disabled were, and was told, they are fully supported by the government but live in institutions their whole lives.
It made me appreciate the laws we have here for those who might be too weak or unable to get down to DC or state capitols and fight for themselves. It made me love this country again for being there for every last one of us. Every once in a while we do something right.
Well “mainstreaming them” has also added no value.