The Shadow of Horror: The Hospital Colônia de Barbacena

The sinister and terrifying history of Hospital Colônia de Barbacena has its roots in a historical betrayal that echoes in the annals of Brazilian history. This betrayal dates back to the dark days of the Inconfidência Mineira movement, when Joaquim Silvério, one of the movement's traitors, received a reward that would leave an indelible stain on the city of Barbacena. As part of his reward for his betrayal, Silvério was granted vast tracts of land, including the dark and infamous Fazenda da Caveira. Years later, this sinister property would become the site where the Colônia Hospital would be built, intended for the treatment of people suffering from the dreaded tuberculosis.

Hospital Colônia, an institution that would soon become notorious, was founded in 1903. Over the years, the hospital underwent remarkable growth and became the largest hospice in Brazil, housing no less than sixteen pavilions. However, it was marked by a sad irony: despite its expansion, the Colony was not the first psychiatric hospital in Brazil. Despite its notoriety, the treatment offered to patients with mental disorders in this institution was far from adequate. Until the late 1950s, clinical physicians and psychiatrists were rare, and neglect was the norm.

Overcrowding, combined with the lack of medical criteria for admission, were recurring problems that plagued the hospital. Unfortunately, around 70% of people admitted to Hospital Colônia did not suffer from any mental illness. The hospital became a repository for any individual considered "different" or problematic by society at the time, or which included homosexuals, alcoholics, beggars, single mothers, political activists, prostitutes and many others.

The inhumane conditions in which patients live leave no room for compassion. Clothes were scarce, food was insufficient and tasteless. Many children spent their lives confined in cribs, often separated from their families. The treatment had no therapeutic protection, but rather the aim of keeping patients contained and intimidated. Practices such as electric shocks, injections and lobotomies were frighteningly common, casting an even more sinister shadow over the hospital.

Another chilling aspect of this story is the exploitation of the dead. Between the years 1969 and 1980, an astonishing 1,823 bodies were sold to medical schools, while others were subjected to loss in acid. This macabre and disturbing chapter in the Colony's history raises profound questions about the ethics and morality involved, making it impossible to ignore the suffering and injustice that persist in the shadows of society.

However, we cannot allow this dark narrative to continue indefinitely. In the 1980s, the Colony began to undergo gradual but significant changes. Children were separated from adults, and the indiscriminate transfer of patients was prohibited. Therapeutic residences emerged that allowed patients with greater independence to return to society, leaving the oppressive darkness of the Colony.

The Museum of Madness, founded in 1996, plays a fundamental role in preserving the history of the Colony and serves as a tribute to around 60,000 victims of the institution. However, it is important to highlight that there was resistance from some who denied the city's dark past, preferring to maintain a veil of oblivion over the atrocities that occurred there.

Ultimately, the story of Hospital Colônia de Barbacena is a dark and chilling chapter in Brazilian history that occurred hidden for decades, a dark stain on the country's history. However, the emergence of the museum and the gradual changes that took steps are important in the direction of justice and memory. It is crucial that we never forget the past, as only by considering the horrors that occurred at Hospital Colônia can we ensure that such atrocities are not repeated in the future. The Colony's dark history should serve as a perennial reminder of how neglect and cruelty can thrive when society remains silent. Only through constant remembrance can we ensure a better, more compassionate future.