Page 81 - All About History - Issue 38-16

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Good Vibrations
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A teenage
Florence Nightingale Life in the asylum
Florence Nightingale
Life in the asylum
showed signs of
showed signs of The place to send your troubled
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The pl
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o send y
hysteria: frequent
hysteria: frequent w i v es, r el a ti v es and f riends
wives, relatives and friends
s,
rom g
enuine illne
outbursts and loss of
s to made-up maladie
outbursts and loss of F From genuine illnesses to made-up maladies,
sse
the asylum was a one-stop shop for anyone
the asylum was a one-stop shop for anyone
appetite that society didn’t know how to deal with. The
appetite
that society didn’t know how to deal with. The
majority of inmates were women and they
majority of inmates were women and they
were often committed by their husbands or
were often committed by their husbands or
fathers. They would have no right to appeal,
fathers. They would have no right to appeal,
even if the ‘incident’ that put them there was
even if the ‘incident’ that put them there was
refusing a life of domesticity. In the asylum,
refusing a life of domesticity. In the asylum,
they would be subjected to more male
they would be subjected to more male
dominance by the doctors that presided there.
dominance by the doctors that presided there.
It was considered therapeutic at the time, but
It was considered therapeutic at the time, but
the reality couldn’t have been more disturbing.
the reality couldn’t have been more disturbing.
Forced to live in cramped conditions,
Forced to live in cramped conditions,
patients were kept spoiled, unclean and
patients were kept spoiled, unclean and
starved into submission. Their relatives
starved into submission. Their relatives
may have believed they were receiving
may have believed they were receiving
the best care, but inmates were treated as
the best care, but inmates were treated as
unwilling guinea pigs for the latest medical
unwilling guinea pigs for the latest medical
tests, including electric shock therapy and
tests, including electric shock therapy and
lobotomies. One patient wrote to her parents:
lobotomies. One patient wrote to her parents:
“Soon I shall lose the brains I had… I feel I shall
“Soon I shall lose the brains I had… I feel I shall
go on degenerating in this environment into
go on degenerating in this environment into
an animal.”
an animal.”
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With a release from the long hours of boredom, her
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this labour-saving device was conceived in 1869
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The diagnosis was bizarre but the treatments this labour-saving device was conceived in 1869 With a release from the long hours of boredom, her
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were even more absurd. Some were prescribed a
by American physician George Taylor. The size of
mood improved immeasurably.
were even more absurd. Some were prescribed a by American physician George Taylor. The size of mood improved immeasurably.
She wasn’t alone. Why pay a doctor when
a dinner table, it required doctors to shovel coal
one-way ticket to the insane asylum while others
one-way ticket to the insane asylum while others a dinner table, it required doctors to shovel coal She wasn’t alone. Why pay a doctor when
were given a cruel and unwanted hysterectomy,
treatment can be administered at home? The
were given a cruel and unwanted hysterectomy, into the engine and was far too cumbersome treatment can be administered at home? The
into the engine and was far too cumbersome
for house calls. With some tinkering, Dr Joseph
but the patients that came again and again were for house calls. With some tinkering, Dr Joseph popularity of the appliance saw doctors’ profits
but the patients that came again and again were
popularity of the appliance saw doctors’ profits
those who were treated with a pelvic massage. The
those who were treated with a pelvic massage. The Mortimer Granville created an electromechanical dwindle, and as there was less to gain from the
Mortimer Granville created an electromechanical
dwindle, and as there was less to gain from the
device called a ‘percusser’ or, colloquially,
‘disorder’, fewer people were being diagnosed. This
‘hysterical paroxysm’ this induced was thought to device called a ‘percusser’ or, colloquially, ‘disorder’, fewer people were being diagnosed. This
‘hysterical paroxysm’ this induced was thought to
be very effective at relieving the symptoms of the ‘Granville’s hammer’. It was said to be designed was also around the time that Sigmund Freud,
was also around the time that Sigmund Freud,
‘Granville’s hammer’. It was said to be designed
be very effective at relieving the symptoms of the
the father of psychoanalysis, published papers
condition, and proved extremely profitable for the for relieving muscle pain, but doctors rejoiced in the father of psychoanalysis, published papers
condition, and proved extremely profitable for the
for relieving muscle pain, but doctors rejoiced in
on hysteria as a mental, rather than physical,
doctors who carried out this ‘procedure’. its effectiveness for treating hysteria. The hour of on hysteria as a mental, rather than physical,
its effectiveness for treating hysteria. The hour of
doctors who carried out this ‘procedure’.
At a time when remedies were often deadlier
At a time when remedies were often deadlier manual toil was reduced to just five minutes, and condition. He identified paroxysm as sexual, which
condition. He identified paroxysm as sexual, which
manual toil was reduced to just five minutes, and
than the diseases, hysteria was one of the few
than the diseases, hysteria was one of the few by the early 1900s, similar models were available must have caused Victorian doctors to blush and
by the early 1900s, similar models were available
must have caused Victorian doctors to blush and
commercially. In fact, it became the fifth electrical
quickly abandon the treatment. Rather, Freud used
afflictions that could be treated without risk to commercially. In fact, it became the fifth electrical quickly abandon the treatment. Rather, Freud used
afflictions that could be treated without risk to
the patient’s life. Those who could afford it looked appliance to enter the home, along with the hypnosis to coax his patients into opening up.
hypnosis to coax his patients into opening up.
appliance to enter the home, along with the
the patient’s life. Those who could afford it looked
This, coupled with a greater understanding of
forward to their weekly appointment, as the teakettle, fan, sewing machine and toaster. This, coupled with a greater understanding of
teakettle, fan, sewing machine and toaster.
forward to their weekly appointment, as the
doctors went to great lengths to satisfy the women
doctors went to great lengths to satisfy the women The personal massager, as it was known, created neurological disorders such as epilepsy, meant
The personal massager, as it was known, created
neurological disorders such as epilepsy, meant
in their care. There was nothing titillating about
symptoms were no longer attributed to hysteria.
in their care. There was nothing titillating about such a stir that adverts appeared in periodicals, symptoms were no longer attributed to hysteria.
such a stir that adverts appeared in periodicals,
f
it, because everyone knew women were incapable from Needlecraft to Woman’s Home Companion. rom Needlecraft to Needlecraft to Needlecraft Woman’s Home Companion. Eventually, this disease of the imagination was
it, because everyone knew women were incapable
Eventually, this disease of the imagination was
“Vibration is life,” one claimed. “Perfect relaxation
struck off medical associations’ lists of recognised
of such feelings, and though this was yet another
of such feelings, and though this was yet another “Vibration is life,” one claimed. “Perfect relaxation struck off medical associations’ lists of recognised
example of men exerting control over women,
is perfect health,” cried another. The true purpose
conditions and now, no one has it. Laws and
example of men exerting control over women, is perfect health,” cried another. The true purpose conditions and now, no one has it. Laws and
there were minimal complaints.
there were minimal complaints. was concealed and adverts often pictured ladies society took a long time to reform in order to truly
was concealed and adverts often pictured ladies
society took a long time to reform in order to truly
Men of medicine saw it as their duty, however,
Men of medicine saw it as their duty, however, using the device as a facial massager, but the benefit Fanny Lovegood and repressed Victorian
benefit Fanny Lovegood and repressed Victorian
using the device as a facial massager, but the
discerning public knew better. Vibrators were
women like her. But things improved for her
many found the technique tricky to master, and discerning public knew better. Vibrators were women like her. But things improved for her © Mary Evans, Antique Vibrator Museum © Mary Evans, Antique Vibrator Museum
many found the technique tricky to master, and
daughter, and her daughter’s daughter – although
portrayed to be about as sexual as a cutlery set, and
the massage could take up to an hour. Necessity
the massage could take up to an hour. Necessity portrayed to be about as sexual as a cutlery set, and daughter, and her daughter’s daughter – although
there’s still a long way to go. As for the vibrator, that
that’s how Fanny Lovegood was able to purchase
called for a rather unusual invention: the steam-
called for a rather unusual invention: the steam- that’s how Fanny Lovegood was able to purchase there’s still a long way to go. As for the vibrator, that
one without arousing her husband’s suspicions.
powered vibrator. Christened ‘The Manipulator’,
powered vibrator. Christened ‘The Manipulator’, one without arousing her husband’s suspicions. continues to cause a buzz in society today.
continues to cause a buzz in society today.
90S
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1800S 1890S EARLY 1900S
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N E RV E UNCONSCIOUS F A L L I N G O U T O F
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DISEASE
CONFLICTS
FASHION
DISEASE CONFLICTS FASHION
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sexual issue, French
sexual issue, French Freud believes is the from medical use and,
Freud believes is the
from medical use and,
neurologist Jean-
neurologist Jean- cause of hysteria. For eventually, it is dropped
cause of hysteria. For
eventually, it is dropped
treatment, he puts his
from lists of recognised
Martin Charcot
Martin Charcot treatment, he puts his from lists of recognised
proposes hysteria is a
patients under hypnosis
proposes hysteria is a patients under hypnosis conditions. Vibrators
conditions. Vibrators
nerve disease, akin to
nerve disease, akin to to enable them to talk become mass-market.
to enable them to talk
become mass-market.
through their issues.
multiple sclerosis.
multiple sclerosis. through their issues.
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