Mitchell7 has organized into a scientific system a valuable method of treating hysteria, and has given to the world a series of studies of some types of the affection best or only seen in the United States.
7 Fat and Blood: An Essay on the Treatment of Certain Forms of Neurasthenia and Hysteria, and Clinical Lecture on Diseases of the Nervous System, especially in Women.
Among other American monographs on hysteria and allied subjects worthy of note are the contributions of Shaffer on The Hysterical Element in Orthopædic Surgery;8 Seguin's essay on Hysterical Symptoms in Organic Nervous Affections;9 Beard's volume on Nervous Exhaustion;10 the chapters on Hysterical Insanity, etc. in Hammond's text-books;11 and the papers of G. L. Walton12 on Hystero-epilepsy. Spitzka, Mann, Hughes, and Kiernan have made important contributions to the psychical aspects of the subject in various American medical journals.
8 The Hysterical Element in Orthopædic Surgery, by Newlin M. Shaffer, M.D., New York, 1880.
9 Archives of Neurology and Electrology, for May, 1875, and Opera Minora, p. 180.
10 A Practical Treatise on Nervous Exhaustion (Neurasthenia), by George M. Beard, A.M., M.D., New York, 1880.
11 A Treatise on Diseases of the Nervous System, and A Treatise on Insanity in its Medical Relations.
12 Brain, vol. v. p. 458, Jan., 1883; Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, vol. xi. p. 425, July, 1884.
During the last five years I have published a number of articles and lectures on the subject of hysteria and hystero-epilepsy, some of which have been freely used in the preparation of this and the succeeding sections.13 My first paper on hystero-epilepsy, in the American Journal of the Medical Sciences, was written to strongly direct the attention of the American profession to the subject as studied in France. It was in large part a translation from the works of Charcot, Richer, and Bourneville, with, however, notes of some observed cases.
13 “Hystero-epilepsy,” American Journal of the Medical Sciences, October, 1881.
“Epileptoid Varieties of Hystero-epilepsy,” Journal of Nervous and Mental Diseases, October, 1882.
“Illustrations of Local Hysteria,” Polyclinic, vol. i., Nos. 3 and 4, September 15, October 15, 1883.
“Clinical Lecture on the Treatment of Hysterical Paralysis by Rest, Massage, and Electricity,” Med. and Surg. Reporter, vol. 1. p. 168, February 9, 1884.
“Clinical Lecture on the Differential Diagnosis of Organic from Hysterical Hemianæsthesia, etc.,” ibid. vol. 1. p. 233, 265, February 23, March 1, 1884.
“Clinical Lecture on Spinal Traumatisms and Pseudo-Traumatisms,” Polyclinic, vol. i. No. 9, March 15, 1884.
“A Case of Nymphomania, with Hystero-epilepsy, etc.,” Medical Times, vol. xv. p. 534, April 18, 1885.
“Hystero-epilepsy in the Male, etc.,” Medical Times, vol. xv. p. 648, May 30, 1885.
“Some Forms of Myelitis, their Diagnosis from each Other and from Hysterical Paraplegia,” Medical News, vol. xlvii., Nos. 7 and 8, August 15 and 22, 1885.
“Clinical Lecture on Acute Mania and Hysterical Mania,” Medical Times, vol. xvi. p. 153, November 28, 1885.