"The cruel madness of love" : sex, syphilis and psychiatry in Scotland, 1880-1930 / Gayle Davis.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Davis, Gayle.

Series:

Clio medica (Amsterdam, Netherlands) ; 85.

Wellcome series in the history of medicine.

Wellcome series in the history of medicine

Clio medica, 0045-7183 ; 85

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Neurosyphilis--Scotland--History.

Neurosyphilis.

Psychiatry--Scotland--History.

Psychiatry.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (292 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Amsterdam ; New York, NY : Rodopi, 2008.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Against a backdrop of contemporary social and sexual concerns, and potent fears surrounding the moral and physical ‘degeneration’ of late nineteenth and early twentieth-century society, ‘The Cruel Madness of Love’ explores a critical period in the developing relationship between syphilis and insanity. General paralysis of the insane (GPI), the most commonly diagnosed of the neurosyphilitic disorders, has been devastating both in terms of its severity and incidence. Using the rich laboratory and asylum records of lowland Scotland as a case study, Gayle Davis examines the evolution of GPI as a disease category from a variety of perspectives: social, medical, and pathological. Through exploring case notes and the impact of new diagnostic techniques and therapies, such as the Wassermann Test and Malarial Therapy, the reader gains a unique insight into both patients and practitioners. Significant insights are gained into the socio–sexual background and medical experience of patients, as well as the clinical ideas and judgmental behaviour of the practitioners confronting this disease. ‘The Cruel Madness of Love’ will be of interest to anyone wishing to explore the historical relationship between sexuality, morality and disease.

Contents:

Preliminary material / Editors The Cruel Madness of Love

Abbreviations / Editors The Cruel Madness of Love

List of Figures / Editors The Cruel Madness of Love

List of Tables / Editors The Cruel Madness of Love

List of Images / Editors The Cruel Madness of Love

Acknowledgements / Editors The Cruel Madness of Love

Introduction / Editors The Cruel Madness of Love

Scottish Institutional Provision for the Insane / Editors The Cruel Madness of Love

Clinical Diagnosis / Editors The Cruel Madness of Love

The Impact of the Laboratory / Editors The Cruel Madness of Love

Treatment / Editors The Cruel Madness of Love

Aetiology and Social Epidemiology / Editors The Cruel Madness of Love

Conclusions / Editors The Cruel Madness of Love

Appendices / Editors The Cruel Madness of Love

Sources and Select Bibliography / Editors The Cruel Madness of Love

Index / Editors The Cruel Madness of Love.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 251-274) and index.

ISBN:

94-012-0631-7

1-4416-0126-0

OCLC:

714567352

Publisher Number:

10.1163/9789401206310 DOI