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On the Curability of Mental Diseases by “Shock” Treatment

(An Analysis of Cases Treated.)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 February 2018

Rudolf Freudenberg
Rudolf Freudenberg*
Affiliation:
Moorcroft House, Hillingdon, Middlesex
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Extract

The treatment of mental disorders by drastic methods coming as a “shock” to the patient was applied early in history all over the world (1). The severity of the procedure usually varies with the degree of civilization achieved. The earliest method was occipital branding. Water cures followed later: “The frantic person was placed with his back to the water without being permitted to know what was going to be done. He was knocked backwards into the water by a violent blow on the chest, when he was tumbled about in a most unmerciful manner until fatigue had subdued the rage.” Anglo-Saxon priests used a form of treatment described in Bald's Leechbook: “In case a man be a lunatic take the skin of a mereswine (porpoise), work it into a whip, swing the man herewith, soon he will be well. Amen.” (1).

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Mental Science , Volume 87 , Issue 369 , October 1941 , pp. 529 - 544
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1941 

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