An essay on the Charcot and Richer hysteria: from charcoal drawings to cell phones.

Hysteria, previously also known as the disease of the womb, has moved from being a woman's illness through the medieval times' stigma of demonic possession, to the modern concept of a functional neurological disorder. Interestingly to the present assay, Charcot (1825-1893) and Richer (1849-1933) described, in their 1887 work Les Démoniaques dans l'art, by means of iconography, semiological aspects of the so-called Grande Attaque Hystérique, which resembles features of psychogenic nonepileptic seizures emulating grand mal epileptic seizures. The aim of the present assay is to describe how those charcoal iconographic representations evolved through history and are nowadays portrayed in videos recorded at epilepsy monitoring units and patients' cell phones.

Histeria, previamente também conhecida como a doença do útero, passou de uma doença feminina, pelo estigma de possessão demoníaca ao longo dos tempos medievais, até o conceito moderno de um distúrbio neurológico funcional. Curiosamente para o presente ensaio, Charcot (1825­1893) e Richer (1849­1933) descreveram, em sua obra Les Démoniaques dans l'art, de 1887, por meio da iconografia, aspectos semiológicos do chamado Grande Attaque Hystérique, que se assemelha às características de crises não epilépticas psicogênicas que emulam crises epilépticas do tipo grande mal. O objetivo deste ensaio é descrever como essas representações iconográficas evoluíram ao longo da história e são retratadas nos dias de hoje em vídeos gravados em unidades de monitoramento de epilepsia e nos celulares de pacientes.

Les démoniaques dans l'art: Charcot and the "hysterical saints".

Professor Jean-Martin Charcot was the founder of clinical neurology and one of the prominent researchers in the field of hysteria in the 19th century. His book Les démoniaques dans l'art is a representation of hysterical symptoms in religion and religious art. This paper aims to discuss Charcot's descriptions of hysteria in religion and his "hysterical saints".

Professor Jean-Martin Charcot foi o fundador da neurologia clínica e um dos pesquisadores mais proeminentes no campo da histeria durante o século XIX. Seu livro Les démoniaques dans l'art é uma representação dos sintomas histéricos na religião e arte religiosa. Esse artigo objetiva discutir as descrições de Charcot de histeria na religião e seus "santos histéricos".

[Argentinian women and the uses of drugs: A sociohistorical analysis of female drug use in Argentina (1860-1930)]. / Mujeres argentinas y usos de drogas: análisis sociohistórico del uso femenino de sustancias psicoactivas en Argentina (1860-1930).

This article describes cases presented by experts from the legislative and medical-legal fields regarding the use of psychoactive substances among Argentinian women from 1878 to 1930. Background information is presented regarding the relationship between women and the use different drugs, medical interventions on the female body where psychoactive substances were used are analyzed, and experts' descriptions of cases of female drug users are detailed. Experts' discourses during this period did not attempt to comprehend the specificities of female consumption, but were rather used to position the issue of drug use as a social problem. This was done using three prototypes: the victim of a sick husband; the prostitute who encourages drug use among the weak in spirit (natural-born criminals); and the virtuous young woman who succumbs to drug addiction in spite of her father's rule. Each figure reinforces the need for state intervention and increased social control.

Este trabajo describe casos expuestos por expertos de los ámbitos legislativo y médico-legal periodístico, en los que se reporta el consumo de sustancias psicoactivas por parte de mujeres de Argentina, entre 1878 y 1930. Se presentan antecedentes sobre mujeres y usos de distintos fármacos, se analizan las intervenciones médicas que utilizan sustancias psicoactivas sobre el cuerpo femenino, y se detallan los casos de mujeres consumidoras desde las miradas expertas. En este periodo, los discursos expertos no buscaron comprender la especificidad femenina del consumo, sino promover el tema drogas como un problema. Esto se produce utilizando tres prototipos: la víctima de un marido enfermo, la prostituta que envicia a los débiles de espíritu (criminal nata), y la joven virtuosa que contraviene la ley del padre y sucumbe en la toxicomanía. Cada figura refuerza la necesidad de intervención estatal y control social.

Mujeres argentinas y usos de drogas: análisis sociohistórico del uso femenino de sustancias psicoactivas en Argentina (1860-1930) / Argentinian women and the uses of drugs: A sociohistorical analysis of female drug use in Argentina (1860-1930)

RESUMEN Este trabajo describe casos expuestos por expertos de los ámbitos legislativo y médico-legal periodístico, en los que se reporta el consumo de sustancias psicoactivas por parte de mujeres de Argentina, entre 1878 y 1930. Se presentan antecedentes sobre mujeres y usos de distintos fármacos, se analizan las intervenciones médicas que utilizan sustancias psicoactivas sobre el cuerpo femenino, y se detallan los casos de mujeres consumidoras desde las miradas expertas. En este periodo, los discursos expertos no buscaron comprender la especificidad femenina del consumo, sino promover el tema drogas como un problema. Esto se produce utilizando tres prototipos: la víctima de un marido enfermo, la prostituta que envicia a los débiles de espíritu (criminal nata), y la joven virtuosa que contraviene la ley del padre y sucumbe en la toxicomanía. Cada figura refuerza la necesidad de intervención estatal y control social.

ABSTRACT This article describes cases presented by experts from the legislative and medical-legal fields regarding the use of psychoactive substances among Argentinian women from 1878 to 1930. Background information is presented regarding the relationship between women and the use of different drugs, medical interventions on the female body where psychoactive substances were used are analyzed, and experts' descriptions of cases of female drug users are detailed. Experts' discourses during this period did not attempt to comprehend the specificities of female consumption but were rather used to position the issue of drug use as a social problem. This was done using three prototypes: the victim of a sick husband; the prostitute who encourages drug use among the weak in spirit (natural-born criminals); and the virtuous young woman who succumbs to drug addiction in spite of her father's rule. Each figure reinforces the need for state intervention and increased social control.

A neurological bias in the history of hysteria: from the womb to the nervous system and Charcot.

Hysteria conceptions, from ancient Egypt until the 19th century Parisian hospital based studies, are presented from gynaecological and demonological theories to neurological ones. The hysteria protean behavioral disorders based on nervous origin was proposed at the beginning, mainly in Great Britain, by the "enlightenment nerve doctors". The following personages are highlighted: Galen, William, Sydenham, Cullen, Briquet, and Charcot with his School. Charcot who had hysteria and hypnotism probably as his most important long term work, developed his conceptions, initially, based on the same methodology he applied to studies of other neurological disorder. Some of his associates followed him in his hysteria theories, mainly Paul Richer and Gilles de La Tourette who produced, with the master's support, expressive books on Salpêtrière School view on hysteria.

A neurological bias in the history of hysteria: from the womb to the nervous system and Charcot / Um viés neurológico na história da histeria: desde o útero até o sistema nervoso e Charcot

Hysteria conceptions, from ancient Egypt until the 19th century Parisian hospital based studies, are presented from gynaecological and demonological theories to neurological ones. The hysteria protean behavioral disorders based on nervous origin was proposed at the beginning, mainly in Great Britain, by the “enlightenment nerve doctors”. The following personages are highlighted: Galen, William, Sydenham, Cullen, Briquet, and Charcot with his School. Charcot who had hysteria and hypnotism probably as his most important long term work, developed his conceptions, initially, based on the same methodology he applied to studies of other neurological disorder. Some of his associates followed him in his hysteria theories, mainly Paul Richer and Gilles de La Tourette who produced, with the master's support, expressive books on Salpêtrière School view on hysteria.

As concepções da histeria, desde o antigo Egito até os estudos baseados nos hospitais parisienses do século 19 são apresentados, a partir de teorias ginecológicas e demonológicas até às neurológicos. A ideia dos transtornos comportamentais multiformes com base na origem nervosa foi proposta no início, principalmente na Grã-Bretanha, pelos “médicos dos nervos do iluminismo”. Os seguintes personagens se destacam: Galeno, William, Sydenham, Cullen, Briquet e Charcot com a sua escola. Charcot tinha a histeria e hipnose provavelmente como o seu trabalho mais importante a longo prazo. Ele desenvolveu suas concepções inicialmente com base na mesma metodologia aplicada a estudos sobre outros transtornos neurológicos. Alguns de seus associados seguiram-no em suas teorias, principalmente Paul Richer e Gilles de La Tourette, que produziram, com o apoio do mestre, livros significativos da Escola da Salpêtrière sobre a histeria.

126 hysterical years - the contribution of Charcot.

The authors summarise the concepts of hysteria, emphasizing the seminal contribution of Charcot to its study.

126 hysterical years - the contribution of Charcot / Histeria 126 anos ? a contribuição de Charcot

The authors summarise the concepts of hysteria, emphasizing the seminal contribution of Charcot to its study.

Os autores fazem um resumo sobre os conceitos de histeria, enfatizando a grande contribuição de Charcot ao estudo da histeria.

Hysteria to conversion disorders: Babinski's contributions.

The main objective of this paper is to present the importance of hysteria on Babinski's oeuvre, and the conceptions of pithiatism from Babinski until the one of conversion disorder. Babinski gave a mental basis for hysteria in the place of Charcot's encephalopatic one, and several important semiotic tools to differentiate organic from hysterical manifestations based on studies from 1893-1917/8. His teachings were spread worldwide, and in Brazil they were also appreciated in the work on hysteria by Antonio Austregesilo, the first Brazilian neurology chairman. The neurobiological basis of hysteria conceived by Charcot is nowadays reappraised, and Babinski's neurosemiological contribution is everlasting. The patients believed to be hysterical, and the two outstanding neurologists, Charcot and Babinski, gave support for the development of the modern neurology.

Hysteria to conversion disorders: Babinski's contributions / Histeria aos transtornos de conversão: contribuições de Babinski

The main objective of this paper is to present the importance of hysteria on Babinski's oeuvre, and the conceptions of pithiatism from Babinski until the one of conversion disorder. Babinski gave a mental basis for hysteria in the place of Charcot's encephalopatic one, and several important semiotic tools to differentiate organic from hysterical manifestations based on studies from 1893-1917/8. His teachings were spread worldwide, and in Brazil they were also appreciated in the work on hysteria by Antonio Austregesilo, the first Brazilian neurology chairman. The neurobiological basis of hysteria conceived by Charcot is nowadays reappraised, and Babinski's neurosemiological contribution is everlasting. The patients believed to be hysterical, and the two outstanding neurologists, Charcot and Babinski, gave support for the development of the modern neurology.

O objetivo principal deste trabalho é apresentar a importância da histeria na obra de Babinski e a concepção de pitiatismo de Babinski até a de transtorno de conversão. Babinski deu uma base mental para histeria no lugar da encefalopática de Charcot, e várias ferramentas semiológicas importantes para diferenciar manifestações orgânicas de histéricas, com base em estudos de 1893-1917/8. Seus ensinamentos foram disseminados em todo o mundo, e no Brasil eles também foram apreciados no trabalho sobre a histeria por Antonio Austregésilo, o primeiro catedrático da neurologia brasileira. A base neurobiológica da histeria concebida por Charcot é reavaliada hoje em dia, e a contribuição neurosemiológica de Babinski é perene. Os pacientes considerados histéricos e os dois grandes neurologistas, Charcot e Babinski, deram suporte para o desenvolvimento da neurologia moderna.

José Juan Bruner (1825-1899): una estrella fugaz en la historia de la psiquiatría chilena / The contribution of Jose Juan Bruner to Chilean psychiatry

The contribution of Dr. Bruner to psychology and psychiatry is largely unknown. This is a summary of the ideas proposed in his "Medical-Psychological Monograph" from 1857, that was written after a case of a possibly possessed woman from Santiago. In this work Dr. Bruner discards the spirit-brain duality, proposes a functional morphology of the brain, recognizes the importance of remote history taking when interviewing patients, proposes a theory for self-formation and the risks of self-fragmentation. He proposes that the case of the woman corresponds to a brain disease, opposing the thought of an ovarian and uterine origin. He proposes a hypothesis of the psychogenic origin of the disease, the importance of what happened during dreams and beyond the conscience of the patient. Many of his ideas preceded by decades those of Charcot and Freud, but they have not had a proper recognition.

Dubois d'amiens e a sua concepção sistemática da hipocondria e da histeria na França / Dubois d'amiens and his systematic conception of hypochondria and hysteria in France / Dubois d'amiens et sa conception systématique de l'hypocondrie et de l'hystérie en France / Dubois d'amiens y su concepción sistemática de la hipocondría y de la histeria en Francia

Frédéric Dubois d'Amiens foi o vencedor do concurso da Sociedade Real de Medicina de Bordeaux em 1830, graças à apresentação da sua tese intitulada "História filosófica da hipocondria e da histeria". De um ponto de vista existencial, sistemático e por meio de um método histórico-filosófico, ele propõe uma descrição inédita da hipocondria, pois descreve passo a passo a constituição do sujeito afetado, revolucionando assim as concepções médicas e psicopatológicas dessa doença. Apesar das diversas críticas que lhe são apontadas, Dubois d'Amiens reconhece à hipocondria, desde 1830, um sofrimento psíquico e físico específico e vê nela uma forma de pensar, enquanto que Freud a classificará mais tarde como uma neurose atual.

In 1830, Frédéric Dubois d'Amiens won a selection process at the Royal Medical Society of Bordeaux with his thesis entitled "Philosophical history of hypochondriasis and hysteria." From an existential and systematic point of view and based on historical-philosophical methodology, the author presents an unpublished description of hypochondriasis by describing, step-by-step, the constitution of the individual suffering from this affection, thus revolutionizing medical and psychopathological conceptions of the disease. Despite severe criticism of his positions, in 1830 Dubois d'Amiens recognized hypochondriasis as a specific psychological and physical disturbance and described it as a way of thinking. Only much later did Freud classify it as an actual neurosis.

En 1830, Frédéric Dubois d'Amiens remporte le concours de la Société Royale de Médecine de Bordeaux en soutenant son Mémoire intitulé "Histoire Philosophique de l'Hypochondrie et de l'Hystérie". Sous l'angle existentiel et systématique et en s'appuyant sur une méthode historico-philosophique, il propose une description inédite de l'hypocondrie en décrivant pas à pas la constitution de l'individu hypocondriaque, révolutionnant ainsi les conceptions médicales et psychopathologiques de cette affection. Malgré les nombreuses critiques qui lui ont été adressées, Dubois d'Amiens reconnaît à l'hypocondrie dès 1830 une souffrance psychique et physique spécifique et voit en elle une manière de penser, tandis que Freud verra en elle des années plus tard une névrose actuelle.

Frédéric Dubois d'Amiens es el ganador de la competencia de la Real Sociedad de Medicina de Burdeos en 1830, con la presentación de su tesis intitulada "Historia filosófica de la hipocondría y de la histeria". Desde un punto de vista existencial, sistemático y a través un método histórico-filosófico, propone una descripción inédita de la hipocondría, pues describe paso a paso la constitución del individuo afectado, revolucionando así las concepciones médicas y psicopatológicas de esa enfermedad. A pesar de las varias críticas que le son apuntadas, Dubois d'Amiens reconoce la hipocondría desde 1830 como un sufrimiento psíquico y físico específico y la ve como una forma de pensar, mientras que Freud la clasificará mas tarde como una neurosis actual.

Dubois d'Amiens e a sua concepção sistemática da hipocondria e da histeria na França / Dubois d'Amiens and his systematic conception of hypochondria and hysteria in France / Dubois d'Amiens et sa conception systématique de l'hypocondrie et de l'hystérie en France / Dubois d'Amiens y su concepción sistemática de la hipocondría y de la histeria en Francia

Frédéric Dubois d'Amiens foi o vencedor do concurso da Sociedade Real de Medicina de Bordeaux em 1830, graças à apresentação da sua tese intitulada "História filosófica da hipocondria e da histeria". De um ponto de vista existencial, sistemático e por meio de um método histórico-filosófico, ele propõe uma descrição inédita da hipocondria, pois descreve passo a passo a constituição do sujeito afetado, revolucionando assim as concepções médicas e psicopatológicas dessa doença. Apesar das diversas críticas que lhe são apontadas, Dubois d'Amiens reconhece à hipocondria, desde 1830, um sofrimento psíquico e físico específico e vê nela uma forma de pensar, enquanto que Freud a classificará mais tarde como uma neurose atual.(AU)

In 1830, Frédéric Dubois d'Amiens won a selection process at the Royal Medical Society of Bordeaux with his thesis entitled "Philosophical history of hypochondriasis and hysteria." From an existential and systematic point of view and based on historical-philosophical methodology, the author presents an unpublished description of hypochondriasis by describing, step-by-step, the constitution of the individual suffering from this affection, thus revolutionizing medical and psychopathological conceptions of the disease. Despite severe criticism of his positions, in 1830 Dubois d'Amiens recognized hypochondriasis as a specific psychological and physical disturbance and described it as a way of thinking. Only much later did Freud classify it as an actual neurosis.(AU)

En 1830, Frédéric Dubois d'Amiens remporte le concours de la Société Royale de Médecine de Bordeaux en soutenant son Mémoire intitulé "Histoire Philosophique de l'Hypochondrie et de l'Hystérie". Sous l'angle existentiel et systématique et en s'appuyant sur une méthode historico-philosophique, il propose une description inédite de l'hypocondrie en décrivant pas à pas la constitution de l'individu hypocondriaque, révolutionnant ainsi les conceptions médicales et psychopathologiques de cette affection. Malgré les nombreuses critiques qui lui ont été adressées, Dubois d'Amiens reconnaît à l'hypocondrie dès 1830 une souffrance psychique et physique spécifique et voit en elle une manière de penser, tandis que Freud verra en elle des années plus tard une névrose actuelle.(AU)

Frédéric Dubois d'Amiens es el ganador de la competencia de la Real Sociedad de Medicina de Burdeos en 1830, con la presentación de su tesis intitulada "Historia filosófica de la hipocondría y de la histeria". Desde un punto de vista existencial, sistemático y a través un método histórico-filosófico, propone una descripción inédita de la hipocondría, pues describe paso a paso la constitución del individuo afectado, revolucionando así las concepciones médicas y psicopatológicas de esa enfermedad. A pesar de las varias críticas que le son apuntadas, Dubois d'Amiens reconoce la hipocondría desde 1830 como un sufrimiento psíquico y físico específico y la ve como una forma de pensar, mientras que Freud la clasificará mas tarde como una neurosis actual.(AU)

[The contribution of Jose Juan Bruner to Chilean psychiatry]. / José Juan Bruner (1825-1899): una estrella fugaz en la historia de la psiquiatría chilena.

The contribution of Dr. Bruner to psychology and psychiatry is largely unknown. This is a summary of the ideas proposed in his "Medical-Psychological Monograph" from 1857, that was written after a case of a possibly possessed woman from Santiago. In this work Dr. Bruner discards the spirit-brain duality, proposes a functional morphology of the brain, recognizes the importance of remote history taking when interviewing patients, proposes a theory for self-formation and the risks of self-fragmentation. He proposes that the case of the woman corresponds to a brain disease, opposing the thought of an ovarian and uterine origin. He proposes a hypothesis of the psychogenic origin of the disease, the importance of what happened during dreams and beyond the conscience of the patient. Many of his ideas preceded by decades those of Charcot and Freud, but they have not had a proper recognition.

Pierre Janet, Sigmund Freud and Charcot's psychological and psychiatric legacy.

A key moment in the history of psychiatry occurred during Charcot's time at La Salpêtriere. Though his studies on hysteria and hypnotism, the founder of neurology inspired the work of two of his alumni: a Viennese Nervenartz and a French philosopher interested in the dissociation of personality. Even though neither of them was originally an alienist, their respective work allowed the field of neurosis--then belonging to internal medicine--to pass to psychiatry. The parallel lives of these frères enemis, both of whom were treated differently by fame, developed inside a very complex cultural and scientific milieu. Therefore, it is necessary to consider them together with other physicians, some of whom are much less well-known nowadays, who one way or another carried Charcot's influence into psychiatry, psychology and psychotherapy. The fates of the Dioscuri have been reversed--the fame and success of Freudian psychoanalysis ran parallel to Janet's oblivion and his long 'purgatory', but now the 'renaissance' of his work coincides with the decline of psychoanalysis as a theoretical explanation for mental pathology.