HLTHAGE 2GG3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Avicenna, Strange Ways, Mania
11 Mar 2019
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Earliest recordings from 2nd century bce , potentially mania, depression, delusions. Hippocrates & galen -> places madness in the brain. Revived by islamic scholars (al-razi, ibn sina), wards for mad found across early islamic world. In medieval europe, some cited spiritual basis for madness, others argued for imbalance of humours. Responses to madness ranged from monastery stays, burning at stake, bloodletting, whipping, etc. Practice continued in some places until nineteenth century (and beyond) Carries a connotation that it is about medicine. Madness as a concept refers to people behaving in strange ways that seem to defy rationality. Some madness may be result of the moon, having a bad relationship with spirits. If you go back and read accounts from the old arab world there are treatment words for the state of being mad. Somebody may have been tended to in a medical fashion but they also may have their soul tended to.
