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2 - Hormones, 1918–1929

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 February 2020

James F. Stark
Affiliation:
University of Leeds
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Summary

Hormones were hailed in the early twentieth century as one of the most promising explanations for physiological function. This chapter shows how hormone treatments – not just those carried out by medical practitioners – influenced public perceptions of youth and ageing. Laboratory and clinical research influenced the marketing of commercial rejuvenation therapies, and commercial entities produced an enticing range of products containing hormones. The widely publicised research of gland-manipulating surgeons – particularly Eugen Steinach and Serge Voronoff – who gained notoriety by performing rejuvenating operations designed to restore bodily hormonal balance, attracted considerable press interest. The press carried numerous reports of procedures carried out on prominent society figures, yet for many these expensive and highly specialised treatments were out of reach. I argue the main contribution by the work of Voronoff and Steinach to British public life was to sustain a significant market of new hormone-based products, from dietary supplements and skin creams which claimed to restore natural bodily balance to medical hormone preparations designed to address fertility problems.

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Chapter
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The Cult of Youth
Anti-Ageing in Modern Britain
, pp. 24 - 67
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2020

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  • Hormones, 1918–1929
  • James F. Stark, University of Leeds
  • Book: The Cult of Youth
  • Online publication: 28 February 2020
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108695428.002
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  • Hormones, 1918–1929
  • James F. Stark, University of Leeds
  • Book: The Cult of Youth
  • Online publication: 28 February 2020
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108695428.002
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Hormones, 1918–1929
  • James F. Stark, University of Leeds
  • Book: The Cult of Youth
  • Online publication: 28 February 2020
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108695428.002
Available formats
×