Freud

April 1886: Freud begins private practice as a neuropathologist and encounters his first hysterics

Charcot prevented Freud from asking psychological questions. Charcot’s view that hysteria was not connected to the female sexual organs was an advance, yes. But it stopped Freud from asking whether some mental disorders might have a sexual origin.

Hysteria can only develop where there is hereditary degeneration of the brain.

Specialists had 2 radically different views:
1. either hysteria is an ‘irritation’ of the female sexual organs treated by pressure on the ovaries, packing them in ice, and surgical attacks on the clitoris,
2. or hysteria is imaginary, mere play-acting by women.

paralysis, convulsions, somnambulism, hallucinations, loss of speech, sensations or memory.
3. Hysterics were once persecuted as witches.

But what exactly is hysteria?
1. The Greek word hystera means womb or uterus.
2. It was believed only women could suffer hysterical symptoms:

1884‒87: Freud studied the effects of cocaine — starting on himself.

1883: Freud spends 5 months working in the Psychiatric Clinic under Theodor Meynert (1833–92), the greatest brain anatomist and neuropathologist at that time.

First he served as assistant to Hermann Nothnagel (1841–1905), Professor of Internal Medicine.

1882–1885: Freud had to face another long training period in clinical medicine at the Vienna General Hospital before starting a private practice.