The Ohio Hospital for Epileptics-the first "epilepsy colony" in America

Abstract

This review examines the planning, development, and course of the first established colony for epilepsy in the United States-The Ohio Hospital for Epileptics. The events leading to the development of the colony, its early course, and the people who were instrumental in its establishment and maintenance are reviewed. At approximately the same time as the development of the Ohio Hospital for Epileptics, eugenics was gaining momentum in America, which affected epilepsy deeply. How this movement influenced thinking and practice at the Ohio Hospital is also reviewed.

Keywords: Behavior; Epilepsy; Epilepsy colony; Eugenics; History.