Suzanne was an unmarried, domestic servant when committed to Royal Park Receiving House, Melbourne, in 1929, following the birth of her illegitimate baby six weeks before. Her doctor described Suzanne’s symptoms as: ‘delusional– receiving messages from spirits – and thought people are going to cut her up.’ ‘She has a depressed affect, is mildly resistive, speaks with apparent reluctance and in low tone.’ Following her transfer to Mont Park, the medical officer Dr John Catarinich noted that Suzanne suffered from puerperal insanity, syphilis and pyelitis an inflammation of the bladder. He prescribed mercury as well as ultraviolet ray treatment, known as the ‘rays’, at Mont Park. Suzanne was among many mothers who underwent various somatic treatments