The Lobotomist explores one of the darkest chapters of American medicine: the desperate attempt to treat the hundreds of thousands of psychiatric patients in need of help during the middle decades of the twentieth century. Into this crisis stepped Walter Freeman, M.D., who saw a solution in lobotomy, a brain operation intended to reduce the severity of psychotic symptoms. Drawing on Freeman's documents and interviews with Freeman's family, Jack El-Hai takes a penetrating look at the life and work of this complex scientific ...
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The Lobotomist explores one of the darkest chapters of American medicine: the desperate attempt to treat the hundreds of thousands of psychiatric patients in need of help during the middle decades of the twentieth century. Into this crisis stepped Walter Freeman, M.D., who saw a solution in lobotomy, a brain operation intended to reduce the severity of psychotic symptoms. Drawing on Freeman's documents and interviews with Freeman's family, Jack El-Hai takes a penetrating look at the life and work of this complex scientific genius. The Lobotomist explores one of the darkest chapters of American medicine: the desperate attempt to treat the hundreds of thousands of psychiatric patients in need of help during the middle decades of the twentieth century. Into this crisis stepped Walter Freeman, M.D., who saw a solution in lobotomy, a brain operation intended to reduce the severity of psychotic symptoms. Although many patients did not benefit from the thousands of lobotomies Freeman performed, others believed their lobotomies changed them for the better. Drawing on a rich collection of documents Freeman left behind and interviews with Freeman's family, Jack El-Hai takes a penetrating look into the life of this complex scientific genius and traces the physician's fascinating life and work.
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Seller's Description:
Fine in fine dust jacket. Book like new. Sewn binding. Cloth over boards. 368 p. Contains: Unspecified, Illustrations, black & white. Audience: General/trade.
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Seller's Description:
Very Good. Size: 6x1x9; 1st edition, 1st printing. Light wear to covers. Name written inside. Text clean and unmarked. The binding is tight and square. Light wear to the dust jacket. Your satisfaction is guaranteed!
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Seller's Description:
Very Good in Very Good jacket. 8vo. 362pp, index, bibliography, notes. Or boards in jacket. Minor spiling to jacket, page edges evenly toned. Controversial view of Dr Walter J Freeman, a neurologist who lobotomised numerous patients (including actress frances Farmer) in an attempt to cure mental illness, persisting long after his contemporaries rejected his methods, losing his medical licence in the process.
