The woman with epilepsy: a historical perspective

doi:10.1017/CBO9780511545030.003

3 - The woman with epilepsy: a historical perspective

from Part I - The woman with epilepsy

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 02 November 2009

Orrin Devinsky

Edited by

Martha J. Morrell and

Kerry L. Flynn

Show author details

Orrin Devinsky: Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, NYU Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, 560 First Avenue, Rivergate, New York, NY 10016, USA
Martha J. Morrell: Affiliation:
Columbia University, New York
Kerry L. Flynn: Affiliation:
Columbia-Presbyterian Cancer Center, New York

Book contents

Get access

Summary

Dr Orrin Devinsky is an eminent epilepsy specialist and former member of the Professional Advisory Board of the Epilepsy Foundation. In this chapter, he reviews the medical history of epilepsy as it relates to women, drawing on his own extensive knowledge about epilepsy, its treatment, and an impressive personal collection of historical texts. Where we are now relates to where we have been. The medical and social histories of epilepsy are filled with stories of wrong information and wrong action. Much of the misunderstanding has impacted women especially. They were thought to suffer from gynecological diseases, unhealthy sexual impulses, and were even considered to be witches. Modern-day therapies have improved the life of the woman with epilepsy. Advances in medical knowledge have put old superstitions and fears to rest. Yet stigma persists. The best way to address this stigma is to understand the source and have access to the information that will end discrimination.

MJM

Epilepsy has affected humans since the dawn of the species and has been recognized since the earliest medical writings. Few medical conditions have attracted so much attention and controversy. Throughout history, people with epilepsy, as well as their families, suffered unfairly because of the ignorance of others. Fortunately, the stigma and fear generated by the words seizure and epilepsy have increasingly diminished during the last century, and the majority of those with seizure disorders now lead a normal life.

Keywords

epileptic seizure activity medical therapy menopause menstruation woman with epilepsy pregnancy

Type: Chapter
Information: Women with Epilepsy
A Handbook of Health and Treatment Issues
, pp. 17 - 34

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511545030.003 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2003

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Alexander W. The Treatment of Epilepsy. Pentland, Edinburgh, 1889

Apuleius. Apulei apologia. Introduction and commentary by Butler HE, Owen AS. Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1914

Beau, B.Recherches statisques pour servir a l'histoire de l'epilepsie et de l'hysterie. Arch Gen Med, 2e serie 1836; 11:328–52Google Scholar

Bouchet, C, Cazauvieilh, D.De l'epilepsie considere dans ses rapports avec l'alienation mentale. Arch Gen Med 1825; 9:510–42Google Scholar

D'Olier, M.On the coexistence of hysteria and epilepsy, with distinct manifestations of two neuroses. Alienist Neurologist 1882; 3:178–93Google Scholar

Dostoyevsky F. The Brothers Karamzov. Transl. Magarshack D. Penguin, Hammondsworth, 1881

Duffy, J.Masturbation and clitoridectomy: a nineteenth century view. JAMA 1963; 186:246–8CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Echeverria MG. On Epilepsy: Anatomo-Pathological and Clinical Notes. W. Wood, New York, 1870

Echeverria, MG.Marriage and hereditariness of epileptics. J Ment Sci 1881; 26:346–90CrossRef Google Scholar

Esquirol E. Mental Maladies. A Treatise on Insanity. Transl. Hunt EK. Lea & Blanchard, Philadelphia, 1845

Fernelius J. Universa Medicina. Lutetiae Parisiorum: Paris Aput. Andream Wechelu, Frankfurt, 1567

Gowers WR. Epilepsy and Other Chronic Convulsive Disorders. Churchill, London, 1881

Gowers WR. A Manual of Diseases of the Nervous System. Blakiston, Philadelphia, 1888

Gowers WR. Epilepsy and Other Chronic Convulsive Disorders, 2nd edn. Churchill, London, 1901

Hippocrates. Des maladies des femmes. In Oeuvres Completes d'Hippocrate, Transl. Littre E, Vol. VIII: Books I, II, and VII. J. Baillière, Paris, 1839–1861

Hippocrates Hippocrates. Transl. Jones WHS. Loeb Classical Library, II, 139–41. Harvard University Press, PA, 1923

Huette, G.Recherches sur les properties physiologiques et therapeutiques du bromiure de potassium. Med Gaz Paris 1850; 21:432Google Scholar

Institoris H. Malleus Maleficarum. Transl. Summers M. Rodker, London, 1928

Laforgue. Rev Medicale de Toulouse, 1867. Quoted by Echeverria, p. 321

La Motte GM de. Traite complet de chirurgie, Vol. 2. Paris, 1771, p. 422

Landouzy H. Trait de L'Hysterie, JB et G Baillière, Paris, 1846

Lennox, WG with the collaboration of MA Lennox. Epilepsy and Related Disorders, 2 volumes. Little Brown, Boston, 1960

Leuba JH. The Psychology of Religious Mysticism. Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner, London, 1925

Locock, C.Discussion of paper by E. H. Sieveking. Analysis of fifty-two cases of epilepsy observed by the author. Lancet 1857; 1:527Google Scholar

Maudsley H. The Pathology of Mind. Macmillan, London, 1879

Maudsley H. Physiology and Pathology of the Mind. W. L. Kingsley, New Haven, CT, 1867

Munson JF. The treatment of the epilepsies. In White WA, Jelliffe SE. Modern Treatment of Nervous and Mental Diseases, Vol. 2. Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia, 1913, pp. 225–73

Paracelsus. Four Treatises of Theophrastus von Hohenheim called Paracelsus. Introductory essays by Temkin CL, Rosen G, Zilboorg G, Sigerist HE. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 1941, pp. 163–4

Pliny. Naturalis historica, rec. Janus L. Leipzig, vols. 2–6, 1856–1865; vol. 4, p. 162

Prichard JC. A Treatise on Diseases of the Nervous System. Underwood, London, 1822, p. 190

Reynolds JR. Epilepsy: its Symptoms, Treatment, and Relation to Other Chronic Convulsive Diseases. Churchill, London, 1861

Schenckius a Grafenberg J. Observationum medicarum rariorum, libri VII. Lyon, 1644

Scott DF. The History of Epileptic Therapy. Parthenon Pub, Carnforth, Iowa, 1993

Sieveking EH. On Epilepsy and Epileptiform Seizures: Their Causes, Pathology, and Treatment, 2nd edn. Churchill, London, 1861

Spratling WP. Epilepsy and its Treatment. WB Saunders, New York, 1904

Temkin O. The Falling Sickness, 2nd edn, revised. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 1971

Tissot SA. Traite de l'epilepsie. Didot Le Jaune, Paris, 1770

Trousseau A. Clinique medicale de l'Hotel-Dieu de Paris, 3rd edn, Vol. II. Paris, 1868. Cited by D'Olier

Veith I. Hysteria: the History of a Disease. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 1965

Wilks, S.Bromide and iodide of potassium in epilepsy. Cases and clinical remarks by Dr. Wilks. Med Times Gaz 1861; 2:635–6Google Scholar

Wilson-Kinnier, JV, Reynolds, EH. Translation and analysis of a cuneiform text forming part of a Babylonian treatise on epilepsy. Med Hist 1990; 34:185–98CrossRef Google Scholar

Book contents

3 - The woman with epilepsy: a historical perspective

Summary

Keywords

Access options

References

Save book to Kindle

Save book to Dropbox

Save book to Google Drive