THE ORIGINS OF PSYCHOSURGERY - SHAW, BURCKHARDT AND MONIZ

The concepts and techniques involved in the origins of psychosurgery d uring the late nineteenth century are analysed, particularly in the wo rk of Claye Shaw and Gottlieb Burckhardt. It is shown that their views and therapeutic behaviour were guided by scientific, ethical and soci al warrants not dissimilar those of today. The debate that followed th eir work can thus be considered as a trial run to that elicited by the work of Moniz. This paper focuses on the work of Shaw, Cripps, Tuke a nd Duncan for, until now, it has not featured in any history of psycho surgery. From the point of view of the history of science, their work is important, for it relates to the debate on brain localization, neur onal circuits and the neurobiological representation of mental illness that took place at the dawn of the twentieth century. Nothing is said on the history of psychosurgery subsequent to the work of Moniz.