Medical news is full of stories about promising new treatments for challenging conditions, or for additional health benefits of routine behaviours and habits. Who doesn’t want to feel good about drinking coffee or eating chocolate?
That’s why, to this day, removal of a woman’s uterus is still called a ‘hysterectomy’. As in, removal of what causes hysteria.
The Greek word ‘hystera’ means womb, or uterus, so ‘hysteria’ is literally just ‘uterus syndrome’. To take a broader brush, it kind of means ‘woman syndrome’.
Surprises me we still use this naming convention in English, given the obvious modern connotations.
didn’t they used to call it “mania” back in the 17th century?
hysteria, I believe
That’s why, to this day, removal of a woman’s uterus is still called a ‘hysterectomy’. As in, removal of what causes hysteria.
The Greek word ‘hystera’ means womb, or uterus, so ‘hysteria’ is literally just ‘uterus syndrome’. To take a broader brush, it kind of means ‘woman syndrome’.
Surprises me we still use this naming convention in English, given the obvious modern connotations.
oh yeah! that’s what it was.