Spiritualism
It is easy in 2017 to laugh at the idea of Spiritualism, but there were many circumstances that allowed this movement to take root. Many of the “tricks” we can credit to electricity would have been wonderous to a world where the telegraph was still more unknowable than the soul. This was a movement that provided comfort of life after death, and the possibility to communicate with that life. Amidst the Second Great Awakening, it also put power in people’s hands in terms of the afterlife in new ways. Spiritualists often considered themselves scientists, also seeking higher truth. And, in the middle of all of it, were women in a way that many had never seen take presidency in public before. Still, male practitioners like Jerome DuPont were not unheard of. Even more common was the salon fascination, like the at of Mrs. Humphries, with these new movements.
Spiritualism was more than just entertainment; they also began to offer healing for emotional and physical symptoms. While it seems irresponsible to go to a spiritualist over a doctor, this was an age where doctors’ treatments hadn’t really caught up with science. Many were still bloodletting. They were prescribing alcohol, opium, and mercury to patients. While these may have not been considered the poisons they are today, patients would surely have felt their effects and been willing to explore other healing options.
This did not mean doctors responded well to the addition of medical mediums, who were, by and large, women. Rather, they trotted out the usual cries of hysteria. One doctor went far enough to name the “disease” of Spiritualism as mediomania saying, “those forms of insanity which are associated with derangement of that system are more frequent among women than among men….mediomania, while it often attacks men...more frequently assails women, and is generally predceded by a genito or venerio-pathological history. The word mediomania,” he concluded, “though not actually synonymous with the word utromnia, is very closely allied with it in meaning.” This is Carpenter blaming all of Spiritualism on the complexities of the uterus.
“For it is well known to those who have had adequate opportunities of observation that there is a class of persons (especially, I am sorry to have to say, of the female sex) who have an extraordinary proclivity to deceit...and who enjoy nothing better than ‘taking-in’ older and wiser people” William B. Carpenter registrar of the University of London
19th century Spiritualists considered themselves scientists. Often the gains of science were as incredulous for people as spiritualists’ claims. Many had beliefs, beyond haunting, that a spirit could attach itself to a person.
Spiritualism was more than just entertainment; they also began to offer healing for emotional and physical symptoms. While it seems irresponsible to go to a spiritualist over a doctor, this was an age where doctors’ treatments hadn’t really caught up with science. Many were still bloodletting. They were prescribing alcohol, opium, and mercury to patients. While these may have not been considered the poisons they are today, patients would surely have felt their effects and been willing to explore other healing options.
This did not mean doctors responded well to the addition of medical mediums, who were, by and large, women. Rather, they trotted out the usual cries of hysteria. One doctor went far enough to name the “disease” of Spiritualism as mediomania saying, “those forms of insanity which are associated with derangement of that system are more frequent among women than among men….mediomania, while it often attacks men...more frequently assails women, and is generally predceded by a genito or venerio-pathological history. The word mediomania,” he concluded, “though not actually synonymous with the word utromnia, is very closely allied with it in meaning.” This is Carpenter blaming all of Spiritualism on the complexities of the uterus.
“For it is well known to those who have had adequate opportunities of observation that there is a class of persons (especially, I am sorry to have to say, of the female sex) who have an extraordinary proclivity to deceit...and who enjoy nothing better than ‘taking-in’ older and wiser people” William B. Carpenter registrar of the University of London
19th century Spiritualists considered themselves scientists. Often the gains of science were as incredulous for people as spiritualists’ claims. Many had beliefs, beyond haunting, that a spirit could attach itself to a person.
Mesmerism
Slightly corny video, but does explore the history of mesmerism. Alias Grace lists duPont as of the school of James Braid.
Psychology
History of Psychology
In the 19th century, psychology was establishing itself as a field. This coincided with the rise of reform in prisons and mental asylums (explored more in depth in the Prisons and Asylums section). 1841 saw Dr. John Galt changing the game as it has been played until then.. He prescribed medicine for the mentally ill in a way that was previously unheard of. He also was one of the pioneers of "talk therapy," advocating for outpatient care in favor of long term stays in asylums.
Dissociative Identity Disorder
Simon Jordan would not have been going into this cases with Grace Marks attempting to diagnosis what is popularly referred to as multiple personality disorder, or dissociative identity disorder (DID). Instead, he hoped to solve Grace's memory loss through therapy much in the same way Spiritualists would have attempted to solve through hypnosis. And yet, if the lingering of an extra soul would have been the popular Spiritualism answer, DID might have been the correspondingly intriguing psychological answer. And, surprise, surprise, it is often linked back to hysteria.
DID was first diagnosed in 1882, but cases of DID, as would be diagnosed today, were recorded earlier than this. These were most often considered cases of possession. When possession fell from favor, hysteria became the primary cause of symptoms. The first, believed, recorded case of DID, thought to be possession at the time, involved Jeanne Fery, a young woman in France in 1584-1585. This article explores that case from a DID perspective.
More information on the history of DID
Diagnostic criteria for Dissociative Identity Disorder as published in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition, 1994
While this diagnosis gained popularity in the 20th century, there were some recorded cases in the 19th, and it would have been the sexy diagnosis to go with Grace's headline leading case. This does not mean this would have been the diagnosis most accepted by Doctor Jordan, but it is one of the first things the contemporary mind may jump to. The diagnosis of DID is still controversial today.
DID was first diagnosed in 1882, but cases of DID, as would be diagnosed today, were recorded earlier than this. These were most often considered cases of possession. When possession fell from favor, hysteria became the primary cause of symptoms. The first, believed, recorded case of DID, thought to be possession at the time, involved Jeanne Fery, a young woman in France in 1584-1585. This article explores that case from a DID perspective.
More information on the history of DID
Diagnostic criteria for Dissociative Identity Disorder as published in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition, 1994
- The presence of two or more distinct identities or personality states (each with its own relatively enduring pattern of perceiving, relating to, and thinking about the environment and self.)
- At least two of these identities or personality states recurrently take control of the person's behavior.
- Inability to recall important personal information that is too extensive to be explained by ordinary forgetfulness.
- The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g. blackouts or chaotic behavior during alcohol intoxication) or a general medical condition (e.g. complex partial seizures)
While this diagnosis gained popularity in the 20th century, there were some recorded cases in the 19th, and it would have been the sexy diagnosis to go with Grace's headline leading case. This does not mean this would have been the diagnosis most accepted by Doctor Jordan, but it is one of the first things the contemporary mind may jump to. The diagnosis of DID is still controversial today.