Electricity rendered useful for mental illness: tribute to Richard Lovett – extra

Abstract

A young gentlewoman of the parish of Clifton … had hysterics … which … deprived her of … memory and understanding, and … continued for a considerable time, notwithstanding the best advice of two eminent physicians. In this melancholic state she was brought to Worcester, to try the effect of electricity … As the head was the part affected, I guided the fire chiefly to that part, in as plentiful a manner as I well could, and caused it to pass quite through several times each day, so long as she stayed in town, so though scarce a week, yet it seemed to have the desired effect; for although, before she came to Worcester, she could not remember half an hour to an end, yet, soon after her return home, she could remember most remarkable things she saw done in Worcester; and not only her memory, but her understanding also returned, and she very soon became perfectly well. The operation was sometimes shocks, sometimes drawing off sparks from the head.