The article is set between the years 1900 to 1903 in the Friedrichsberg institution.  It is centered upon the interpreting aspect of this German asylum.  This article begins with a historical overview of the time period in relation to asylums.  New immigration to America reached its peak between the 1900 and the beginning of World War I.  Therefore, many European immigrants were subject to a wide range of restrictions during this time.  It is stated that the tests given to diagnose these immigrants with mental diseases were, “poorly conceived and highly controversial (Wulf 3).”  Since the restrictions were so loose it was easy to arrest and deport unwanted people by labelling them as insane.  After being labeled as insane these European immigrants were deported to the Friedrichsberg institution in Germany.  The majority of these patients could not, or hardly understood German.  Communication between them including for their adequate treatment became almost impossible.  Files for over two thirds of the admitted “re-immigrants” to institution were examined in the article.  The majority of these patients stayed “an average of 299.8 days (Wulf 6)” in this insane asylum.  A doctor’s account is cited that supports this claim and the passage goes on to state the numerous language barriers that occurred between these European immigrants and their caretakers.  The analysis of the files goes on to show how the majority of the time patients that were diagnosed as insane were used as interpreters in medical examinations other patients.  Many statistics are given studying each of these files and proving that many of the “re-immigrants” were wrongly diagnosed.  

 The situation described in the article very closely mirrors that of the introduction to “Ten Day’s in a Madhouse”.  The argument that would be made in my essay is that due to the historical events occurring at this time it can be concluded that the majority of the people were wrongfully admitted to the institution that Nellie stayed at.  This research article has affected my understanding of the short story in that it further justifies Nellie’s point that the insane asylums at this time were ineffective in proper care and treatment of their patients.  The article points out with very conclusive support in multiple patient files that interpreting mental patients answers to questions were unsuccessful.  This gives conclusive evidence as to one way that the system for admitting and caring for the mentally insane is flawed.  When reading the story aware of the fact that diagnosing someone as insane was used as a way around the law during this time period it can be seen that many of these patients were most likely wrongly diagnosed.  It is by no coincidence that patients Nellie spoke with that she deduced were not insane were also of varying nationalities just like the “re-immigrants” found in the article.
