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?