Johann Jakob Guggenbühl (August 13, 1816, Meilen – February 2, 1863 Montreux) was a Swiss physician.http://www.hls-dhs-dss.ch/textes/d/D14393.php Guggenbühl, Johann Jakob - Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz. He is considered as one of the precursors of medico-educational care.

Life Guggenbühl showed interest in cretinism and was convinced that this disease could be cured. He created, in 1841, a residential home for mentally-handicapped children in Interlaken that lasted until 1860.

Works Hülfsruf aus den Alpen, zur Bekämpfung des schrecklichen Cretinismus. In: Maltens Bibliothek der neuesten Weltkunde. Band 1, Aarau 1840, p. 191 et seq. Briefe über den Abendberg und die Heilanstalt für Cretinismus, 1846. Die Heilung und Verhütung des Cretinismus und ihre neuesten Fortschritte, 1853.

See also History of psychiatric institutions

References