HoratioHoratio StorerStorer

TheThe OriginsOrigins ofof InsanityInsanity inin WomenWomen

DrDr. . StorerStorer

• Pioneer gynecologistPioneer gynecologist

• Anti-abortion Anti-abortion crusadercrusader

• Naturalist and Naturalist and numismatistnumismatist

• Graduated form Graduated form HarvardHarvard

• First to perform a First to perform a caesarean-caesarean-hysterectomyhysterectomy

“ “ That in women mental That in women mental disease is often, perhaps disease is often, perhaps generally, dependant upon generally, dependant upon functional or organic functional or organic disturbance of the disturbance of the reproductive system.”reproductive system.”

““That in women the access That in women the access or exacerbation of mental or exacerbation of mental disease is usually coincident disease is usually coincident with the catamenial with the catamenial (menstrual) (menstrual) establishment…”establishment…”

““That the rational and That the rational and successful treatment of successful treatment of mental disease in women mental disease in women must be based upon the must be based upon the preceding theories, which I preceding theories, which I claim are established,”claim are established,”

““We recognize it everywhere else; we We recognize it everywhere else; we must recognize it in the treatment of must recognize it in the treatment of insane women-no matter whether from insane women-no matter whether from quiet and inoffensive creatures, or quiet and inoffensive creatures, or chaste and pure, they have become chaste and pure, they have become habitually thievish, profane, or habitually thievish, profane, or obscene, despondent or self-indulgent, obscene, despondent or self-indulgent, shrewish or fatuous, or, as the shrewish or fatuous, or, as the parturient cat or sow, they have parturient cat or sow, they have destroyed their offspring, or in other destroyed their offspring, or in other cases have attempted to destroy cases have attempted to destroy themselves.”themselves.”

““excessive sexual desire, as excessive sexual desire, as are most of the mental are most of the mental disturbances of women. disturbances of women. The attacks of this were The attacks of this were very clearly coincident with very clearly coincident with the menstrual period..”the menstrual period..”

“…“…from the insane asylums from the insane asylums when they shall have been when they shall have been made what they may more made what they may more fully become, hospitals for fully become, hospitals for research, for rational research, for rational experiment, and for cure.”experiment, and for cure.”

• What do these views of insane What do these views of insane women tell us about attitudes to women tell us about attitudes to sane women?sane women?

• Do you think it would have made Do you think it would have made any difference if there had been any difference if there had been any women doctors in America in any women doctors in America in the 1860’s?the 1860’s?