Complete Record - Heirs of Hippocrates No. 1385

SIR BENJAMIN COLLINS BRODIE (1783-1862) Lectures illustrative of certain local nervous affections. Printed for Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, Green, & Longman 1837 8 [2] iv, 88 pp. 22 cm.

For more information on this author or work, see number: 1383

After serving as surgeon in ordinary to King George IV until George's death in 1830, Brodie was appointed sergeant-surgeon to his successor, William IV, and in 1834 was made a baronet. He later served as president of the Royal College of Surgeons and was one of the few medical men to serve as president of the Royal Society. Although not mentioned anywhere in the volume, the contents of this treatise were probably taken from his surgical lectures at St. George's Hospital. Brodie discusses how he concluded that many physical afflictions treated by amputation or severe therapeutic regimens were in reality only psychosomatic disorders. He also considers the nature and diagnosis of hysteria as it is frequently manifested in physical disorders.

Cited references: Wellcome II, p. 244