The topic of mental alienation came into vogue during the second half of the nineteenth century in Rio de Janeiro, especially with the inauguration of the Pedro II Mental Asylum, a special hospital for taking in mental patients, referred to during this period as the "mentally alienated." However, as has been shown in the literature on the topic, the history of this particular institution and its relationship with the idea of curing and/or excluding is still the object of debate. A discussion is therefore presented here on the main aspects of this question. The article also presents the results of an analysis from unpublished sources, revealing unknown aspects of this institution.
History of medicine; mental alienation; Pedro II Mental Asylum; Brazilian Imperial Period
