The term hysteria reflected the belief that the condition was due to a "wandering uterus." How and how far it wandered is anyone's guess. I imagine no further than the edge of Hundred Acre Wood. That the term hysterectomy for the operation dates to the late 1800s probably reflects the state of the art of surgery during that century. Obstetrics & Gynecology (2006;107:541-543 abstract) cites the first successful hysterectomy performed in the U.S. in 1856 by Dr. William J. Baker in Knoxville, TN. How often the surgery was attempted unsuccessfully prior to that, and by what name the procedure was known, I do not know. One can imagine synonymous terms being used, such as "utereoctomy." Whether or not the operation was ever done specifically to address hysteria or female hysteria as it was also known, I don't know either, but given the history of medicine I would not be surprised. Other treatments for this condition were certainly unusual by today's standards.