The Lobotomy Letters: The Making of American Psychosurgery (Rochester Studies in Medical History, 25)
$29.95
Description
Book Synopsis: Drawing from original correspondence penned by lobotomy patients and their families as well as from the professional papers of lobotomy pioneer and neurologist Walter Freeman, The Lobotomy Letters gives an account of the widespread acceptance of this controversial procedure.
The rise and widespread acceptance of psychosurgery constitutes one of the most troubling chapters in the history of modern medicine. By the late 1950s, tens of thousands of Americans had been lobotomized as treatment for a host of psychiatric disorders. Though the procedure would later be decried as devastating and grossly unscientific, many patients, families, and physicians reported veritable improvement from the surgery; some patients were even considered cured. The Lobotomy Letters gives an account of why this controversial procedure was sanctioned by psychiatrists and doctors of modern medicine. Drawing from original correspondence penned by lobotomy patients and their families as well as from the professional papers of lobotomy pioneer and neurologist Walter Freeman, the volume reconstructs how physicians, patients, and their families viewed lobotomy and analyzes the reasons for its overwhelming use.
Mical Raz, MD/PhD, is a physician and historian of medicine.
Details
Discover the dark, yet intriguing history of American psychosurgery with The Lobotomy Letters: The Making of American Psychosurgery. Dive into the pages of this fascinating book to uncover the widespread acceptance of this controversial procedure that shaped the course of modern medicine. Written by Mical Raz, MD/PhD, a physician and historian of medicine, this book draws from original correspondence and the professional papers of lobotomy pioneer Walter Freeman.
Learn about the rise of psychosurgery, as tens of thousands of Americans underwent lobotomy as a treatment for various psychiatric disorders. Although later criticized as devastating and unscientific, many patients, their families, and physicians reported significant improvement from the surgery, with some even being considered cured. The Lobotomy Letters provides a gripping account of why this controversial procedure was sanctioned by psychiatrists and doctors of modern medicine.
Immerse yourself in the personal stories of lobotomy patients and their families as they navigate the world of psychosurgery. Delve into the thoughts and emotions of individuals affected by lobotomy through the original correspondence, offering a unique and powerful perspective on the procedure. The Lobotomy Letters not only reconstructs how physicians, patients, and families viewed lobotomy but also delves into the reasons for its overwhelming use.
If you're fascinated by medical history and the dark corners of the human psyche, The Lobotomy Letters is a must-read. Gain a deeper understanding of the controversial world of psychosurgery and its impact on the lives of countless individuals. Get your copy of The Lobotomy Letters: The Making of American Psychosurgery today and uncover the untold stories behind this intriguing chapter in medical history.
Discover More Best Sellers in History
Shop History
On the Other Hand: Left Hand, Right Brain, Mental Disorder, and History
$25.65


$13.37


Surgeon in Blue: Jonathan Letterman, the Civil War Doctor Who Pioneered Battlefield Care
$13.54


Medical Bondage: Race, Gender, and the Origins of American Gynecology
$19.45


$11.99


In the Crucible of Chronic Lyme Disease: Collected Writings & Associated Materials
$34.99


$23.75


The Discovery of Insulin: Twenty-fifth Anniversary Edition
$35.15
