Springer Brain, Mind and Medicine:: Essays in Eighteenth-Century Neuroscience

No books have been published on the practice of neuroscience in the eighteenth century, a time of transition and discovery in science and medicine. This volume explores neuroscience and reviews developments in anatomy, physiology, and medicine in the era some call the Age of Reason, and others the Enlightenment. Topics include how neuroscience adopted electricity as the nerve force, how disorders such as aphasia and hysteria were treated, Mesmerism, and more. Review From the reviews: "An attempt at understanding questions of body and mind based on questions shaped by the philosophical premises of the time. … this volume provides a comprehensive set of works outlining major issues of the long 18th century and appears set to become an excellent reference book. … will have special appeal to anyone interested in the history of neuroscience, neurology, psychology, and medicine, as well as serving as a valuable resource for the contemporary neuroscientist and psychologist interested in the basis of current thinking." (Simon Boag, PsycCRITIQUES, Vol. 53 (26), 2008) "Brain, Mind, and Medicine is well written, nicely illustrated and has its uses. It will appeal to physicians and historians of the neurosciences, and may have some use within undergraduate teaching." (Stephen Casper, History of Psychiatry, Vol. 20 (1), 2009) From the Back Cover Ideas we associate with the 18th century are clearly seen in work published from the latter decades of the 17th century through the first decades of the 19th century. This is the "long 18th century", a period which exhibits multiple discourses in medicine, brain science and philosophy. The editors have deliberately adopted a "presentist" subtitle, "neuroscience", to emphasize that this collection of essays reflect a range of current thought about 18th century-studies of the nervous system in isolation and in context. There are six sections, each preceded by a short introduction. The opening section of Brain, Mind and Medicine: Neuroscience in the 18th Century sets forth a temporal chronology for the long 18th century. This is followed by a background section of essays on (a) brain and mind in the long 18th century, (b) the role of microscopes and microscopy in this period, (c) the nature of 18th century medical education and the place of voluntary hospitals and (d) an illustration of late-18th century medicine, discussing the early career of James Parkinson as an example. The third section contains a series of papers focusing on the nervous system, with (a) an exegesis of John Hunter’s work, (b) the contributions of William Cullen and Robert Whytt, (c) a detailed analysis of the physiological and anatomical work of Pourfour du Petit, (d) the debate between Albrecht Haller and Robert Whytt concerning the mechanism of muscle contraction and two essays on developments in animal electricity during this epoch, (e) the early history starting with observations of the electric ray, and (f) the later contributions of Luigi Galvani, medical man and scientist. The fourth section on brain and behavior considers (a) William Porterfield’s thoughts on vision, and three essays in speculative philosophy of neuroscience, (b) a discussion of David Hartley’s vibration theory, (c) a discussion of Charles Bonnet’s vibration theory and an analysis of Emanuel Swedenborg’s century-too-soon thoughts on localization of brain function. The next section opens with an essay (a) on the neuroscientific ideas of Hermann Boerhaave and Albrecht Haller, then (b) a discussion of the evolution of our understanding of strokes in this epoch; these are followed by three essays on the development and applications of medical electricity, the first (c) on the contribution of Benjamin Franklin, the second (d) on how medical electricity was discussed in the popular publication, Gentleman’s Magazine, and the third (e) on the application of medical electricity in physician’s practices. The e