The impact of anatomopathological knowledge on alienist expertise in Rio de Janeiro – the case of general paralysis of the insane (1868-1882)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4013/hist.2021.251.13Abstract
This research note discusses the impact of anatomopathology on the development of psychiatric knowledge in Rio de Janeiro between 1868 and 1882. Through the analysis of medical dissertations and scientific articles about general paralysis of the insane (GPI) I argue that the acceptance of this disease category, considered nowadays a type of neurosyphilis, played an important role in the process through which alienist expertise became psychiatric knowledge. Since it had been significantly oriented by concepts inherited from the terrain of anatomopathology, the GPI framing process allowed the alienist cohort to incorporate concepts and paradigms which were considered ‘more
scientific’ by general medicine during this period. Thus, the way GPI was described and developed as a disease entity doubtless favoured the process through which alienists professionalized and gained prestige in Rio de Janeiro.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
I grant the journal História Unisinos the first publication of my article, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution license (which allows sharing of work, recognition of authorship and initial publication in this journal).
I confirm that my article is not being submitted to another publication and has not been published in its entirely on another journal. I take full responsibility for its originality and I will also claim responsibility for charges from claims by third parties concerning the authorship of the article.
I also agree that the manuscript will be submitted according to the journal’s publication rules described above.
