On the Curability of Certain Forms of Insanity, Epilepsy, Catalepsy, and Hysteria in Females

"On the Curability of Certain Forms of Insanity, Epilepsy, Catalepsy, and Hysteria in Females" by Baker Brown is a scientific publication written in the late 19th century. The work focuses on the surgical treatment of specific nervous disorders within women, such as hysteria and epilepsy, arguing that many of these conditions are curable through physical intervention. Through detailed accounts of various medical cases, the author seeks to illustrate the efficacy of his methods in alleviating these debilitating conditions. The opening of the work begins with Brown's preface, in which he expresses gratitude towards Dr. Brown-Séquard for allowing him to dedicate the book to him, emphasizing the importance of these theories in surgery and neurology. Brown describes his observations and conclusions drawn from cases involving female patients suffering from various forms of hysteria, epilepsy, and related disorders. He discusses how many conditions result from peripheral nerve irritation, particularly surrounding the pudic nerve, and shares past experiences leading to the treatment methods he advocates. The section lays the foundation for a detailed examination of specific cases, promising a thorough exploration of his surgical interventions and their outcomes. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Isaac Baker Brown was a prominent 19th-century English gynaecologist and obstetrical surgeon. He had a reputation as a specialist in the diseases of women and advocated certain surgical procedures, including clitoridectomies, as cures for epilepsy and hysteria. In 1867, his career ended when he was accused of performing these procedures without consent of the patients. He was subsequently expelled from the Obstetrical Society of London.