Madness at the crossroads: John Home's letters from the Royal Edinburgh Asylum, 1886–87

A detailed and critical discussion of John Home, a certified inmate of the Royal Edinburgh Asylum during 1886–87, is presented from a historical perspective which is sensitive to the respective positions of the practitioner and the patient. Particular attention is paid to the letters Home wrote during his confinement and their significance for understanding asylum life during this period. Some interpretative difficulties surrounding the use of medical records, patient letters and other related evidence are also examined.