no subject

[taimatsu]

I have read this article and realised at least part of why they're called hysterectomies. I'm horrified at the thought.

Comments

[fluffymormegil.livejournal.com]

No, they're called "hysterectomies" because, like most -ectomies and -otomies, the name is derived from the greek or latin for the organ in question.

[taimatsu]

Guh. I am uninformed, once again. Is there a connection between the word' hysteria' in its modern meaning and the words in ancient tongues for the womb, though? That's what I'm getting at.

[meirion.livejournal.com]

yes, there is. or at least the SOED seems to think so. given the nice definition of the noun form of hysteric: a medicine that is good for hysteria or uterine disorders.

if you can find a SOED, read the definitions of hysteria, hysteric, hysterectomy, and hystero-. for further insult (if the preceding wasn't sufficient) carry on and read about the charmingly-named "hysteroid".

gah.

-m-

[fluffymormegil.livejournal.com]

Ah, yes. There is an etymological connection, IIRC.

[mhw.livejournal.com]

Yes.

COED:
hysteria functional disturbance of the nervous system, which was thought to be due to disturbance of the uterine functions. XIX. - ModL. hysteria, f. L. hystericus - Gr. husterikos, f. hustera womb (see UTERUS); see -IA(1).

[quisalan.livejournal.com]

Yup. Victorian theorists actually thought the womb moved about the body and it's movement caused emotional mood swings and 'hysteria'. It was all due to women being 'seperate but different' to men, and wondering womb syndrome was part of it.

There a lot of social/emotional issused that come out of that diagnosis that kept women out of the male domain in the 19th century.

*shrugs*