Bethlem Royal Hospital, London, England, 18th century illustration. Also known as Bedlam, this institution was the first in the world to specialise in the treatment of the mentally ill. The first such patients were admitted in the 14th century. It became notorious in the 17th century for ill-treatment of patients. Illustration published on the 10th of September 1747 by Thomas Bowles after a drawing by Jacob Maurer.