10,000 brains in a basement

November 18, 2022 12:24 PM

The dark and mysterious origins of Denmark's psychiatric brain collection

Additional link with photos: Why did Kirsten Abildtrup die in a mental institution at the age of 24? This question has occupied Kristeligt Dagblad journalist Lise Søgaard for a long time – because Kirsten was her grandmother's little sister. She has looked for an answer for more than a year, and the search has led her on a journey. Across the country, into the history of psychiatry, and far into the future. And closer to Kirsten than she had imagined

posted by tiny frying pan (10 comments total)

The post title turned into a Mountain Goats song in my head as soon as I saw it. I don't know what's wrong with me.

10,000 brains in a basement
stolen from the sick and the poor
I loved you but grew into hatred
let's add two brains to the score
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 12:57 PM on November 18, 2022 [7 favorites]

Great. When Denmark does it, it's dark and mysterious.

When I do it, it's horrific and criminal.
posted by Splunge at 1:00 PM on November 18, 2022 [9 favorites]

I wish I had flipped the links - this is a very compassionate and touching story, please give it a try.
posted by tiny frying pan at 4:51 PM on November 18, 2022 [4 favorites]

Mod note: Deleted a few comments just to clean up some noise, please keep things relevant.
posted by travelingthyme (staff) at 4:51 PM on November 18, 2022 [1 favorite]

Wow, what a journey! It’s good to know that the brains are being used in actual studies, and hopefully some good can come out of it all.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 7:21 PM on November 18, 2022

That second link is such a sad and beautiful story, thanks for posting it. Thank goodness the collection was preserved! I hope much good may come of it.
posted by Coaticass at 12:43 AM on November 19, 2022 [1 favorite]

(Second article in Danish, for those of us who can and prefer to read it in the original language)
posted by Dysk at 1:03 AM on November 19, 2022 [1 favorite]

My first thought on reading this was to be reminded of Lars von Trier's TV series The Kingdom. which is apparently getting a second series, by the way.

Then I read both of the articles. What struck me hardest was that Kirsten has almost exactly the same symptoms at 14 as I had at the same age. Then gratitude that my case wasn't taken further, that my parents (who had troubles of their own) didn't care enough to push it, that I ws born late enough to have access to reasonably effective drugs, and most importantly that I managed to keep out of the system, apart from drugs and some (relatively ineffective) talking therapy, My life isn't the geratest, but it could have been so very much worse.
posted by Fuchsoid at 2:32 AM on November 20, 2022 [2 favorites]

That second link is an extraordinary piece, thank you for posting. Best of the web.
posted by Rumple at 3:54 PM on November 20, 2022 [1 favorite]

In the process of genealogy research, my father-in-law found out that one of my maternal great-grandfathers (mother's mother's mother's first husband) was in the state mental hospital in Rusk, Texas in the 1930 census. What I had always heard was that he was "high-strung" which was somehow related to his having gone to college. This post is making me want to research him, though I doubt I'll find anything nearly as heart-touching as Kirsten's case.
posted by gentlyepigrams at 7:46 PM on November 20, 2022