08/10/2025
In 1887, journalist Nellie Bly, born Elizabeth Cochrane, went undercover for the 'New York World' to investigate abuse at the Women's Lunatic Asylum on Blackwell's Island. Using the alias Nellie Brown, she posed as a poor Cuban immigrant, feigned insanity, and was quickly arrested. After a brief and careless medical evaluation, a judge declared her insane and committed her to the asylum.
Inside, Bly spent ten harrowing days among 1,600 women in overcrowded, unsanitary conditions. She endured freezing baths, spoiled food, and physical abuse from staff. Many patients were not mentally ill but had been institutionalized due to poverty, language barriers, or misdiagnosis, often without proper medical review.
Her exposé, 'Ten Days in a Mad-House', triggered a grand jury investigation that validated her claims. As a result, New York City allocated $1 million to improve asylum conditions, staff training, and diagnostic procedures. Bly’s work became a landmark in investigative journalism and mental health reform.
