Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2
#172352 12/31/07 03:35 AM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2
D
stranger
OP Offline
stranger
D
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2
More of a medical question. I know hysterics and hysteria comes from the Greek for "uterus". I did some looking and found that "hysterectomy" was only from around 1886.

Was the practice of removing uteruses (uteri?) known as hysterectomies because of the Greek word, or was it a common practice to deal with women who were hysterical to remove the uterus? I remember that seemed to be the case in Alan Moore's From Hell which was extremely well-researched. And I do know that many words and sayings come from the medieval belief that organs were responsible for emotions (ie 'love hearts', 'melancholy' 'to vent your spleen').

But, what I'm essentially asking is: does anyone know if hysterectomies removed to treat hysteria in women, or is the name just an etymological coincidence?

Anyone?

Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,773
D
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Pooh-Bah
D
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,773


dalehileman
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,819
A
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Pooh-Bah
A
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,819
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.

Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
Years ago I read a novel (of the fact-based historical fiction variety) set in Victorian England: menopausal women were often treated for "hysteria" with hysterectomies and/or other unusual means. I cannot remember the name of the book but it might be worth it to google the key words to answer your question.

Last edited by AnnaStrophic; 01/02/08 11:34 PM.
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
I would suspect that hysterectomy has the Greek root for uterus rather than the Latin because that tends to be how medical terms are formed; from Greek roots. That hysterics or hysteria was once thought to be due to a wandering uterus (and they say free-range is good) is irrelevant to the roots of the word hysterectomy.

Faldage #172386 01/03/08 12:29 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,819
A
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Pooh-Bah
A
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,819
Originally Posted By: Faldage
I would suspect that hysterectomy has the Greek root for uterus rather than the Latin because that tends to be how medical terms are formed; from Greek roots. That hysterics or hysteria was once thought to be due to a wandering uterus (and they say free-range is good) is irrelevant to the roots of the word hysterectomy.


Oh I don't know, there is a multitude of medical terms that derive from Latin.

Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290
I think the coiner of hysterectomy went with hyster- rather than utero, because -ectomy is, itself, a Greek root, and sticklers often mock those who mix Latin and Greek roots in the same neologism. (Though, not always: e.g., television, homosexual, motorcycle.)


Ceci n'est pas un seing.
Faldage #172395 01/03/08 03:36 PM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
due to a wandering uterus (and they say free-range is good) HA!

Faldage, you did some work on this in '03: I went bartlebying after the relation betwixt hysteresis and hysteria and it seems it ain't there. The Greek words are husteros and hustera, respectively. The one means late and the other womb.
hysteria

Jackie #172452 01/09/08 01:01 AM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2
D
stranger
OP Offline
stranger
D
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2
Man, I love this site! I ask one question, I get a lesson in Greek, extra reading material and a new word (Onelook.com doesn't even have "bartleby", at least as a verb. Can you help me out?)

Thanks for all the help. I think I can continue telling that story to my students, apocryphal though it may be.

Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
to bartleby merely means to utilize the bartleby.com reference site.

-joe (yafo*) friday

*yet another faldage original

Page 1 of 2 1 2

Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,912
Posts229,283
Members9,179
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
TRIALNERRA, befuddledmind, KILL_YOUR_SUV, Heather_Turey, Standy
9,179 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 302 guests, and 2 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
tsuwm 10,542
wofahulicodoc 10,510
LukeJavan8 9,916
AnnaStrophic 6,511
Wordwind 6,296
of troy 5,400
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.

Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5