Legitimar psiquiatras antes que curar pacientes. Las terapias de shock en Buenos Aires, Argentina (1930-1970) / Legitiming psychiatrists rather than curing patients. The shock therapy in Buenos Aires, Argentina (1930-1970)

Esta investigación pretende explicar el uso teórico y clínico que se hizo de las terapias de shock en el campo psiquiátrico argentino, particularmente en la provincia de Buenos Aires entre las décadas de 1930 y 1970. Se sostiene que es preciso estudiar el trabajo psiquiátrico teórico y clínico para conocer cómo los psiquiatras interpretaron la patología mental en el encuentro con sus pacientes. De este modo se analizan dos escenarios bien diferenciados: por un lado, el conformado por el ámbito académico, haciendo hincapié en textos médicos que plasmaron debates que tuvieron lugar en congresos, jornadas, cátedras universitarias, y por otro lado en ámbitos hospitalarios, representado por una población de pacientes crónicas, en un hospital de las afueras de la Capital Federal, el Hospital Esteves de Lomas de Zamora. El uso de las terapias de shock en manos de médicos psiquiatras, modificó el modo de entender la locura y transformó el derrotero cotidiano de las instituciones hospitalarias. Por lo tanto, la presencia de dichas terapias significó un hecho relevante para legitimar la disciplina, independientemente de la 'eficacia' de las mismas en el tratamiento concreto con pacientes (AU)

This research aims to explain the theoretical and clinical use of shock therapies in Argentine psychiatric field, particularly in the province of Buenos Aires between 1930 and 1970. It is argued that it is necessary to study the theoretical and clinical psychiatric work, in order to learn how psychiatrists interpreted mental pathology. Thus two distinct scenarios are analyzed: first academia, emphasizing on medical texts expressing discussions held at congresses, conferences, university chairs, and secondly in hospital settings, represented by a population of chronic patients in a hospital on the outskirts of the Capital Federal, the Esteves Hospital of Lomas de Zamora. The use of shock therapy in the hands of psychiatrists, changed the way of understanding madness and transformed the daily course of hospitals. Therefore, the presence of such therapies was relevant to legitimize the discipline, regardless of the 'effectiveness' with patients (AU)

Advances in the diagnosis of shock, its assessment and resuscitation during the Great War.

The Great War of 1914-1918 ushered in a new era of technology on the battlefield resulting in casualties on an unprecedented scale. There had been progress in many related areas of medicine before the outbreak of hostilities but these had not been applied or fully developed in clinical practice. This is particularly true for the management of haemorrhagic shock and resuscitation. This article discusses the history and development of medical treatment of shock and trauma patients during the conflict.

Clinical review: Circulatory shock--an update: a tribute to Professor Max Harry Weil.

Circulatory shock is common and associated with high morbidity and mortality. Appropriate shock treatment relies on a good understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying shock. In this article, we provide an update on the description, classification, and management of shock states built on foundations laid by Dr Max Harry Weil, a key early contributor to this field.

The history and evolution of circulatory shock.

This article reviews the development of early ideas regarding the origins and pathogenesis of shock. The early history of shock is related primarily to traumatic shock. More recent history centers on differentiation of clinical syndromes and individual characteristics. Definitions, classification systems, pathogenic theories, and treatments have evolved. Progress has been aided by constant development of improved assessment technologies. Today, shock is not a single syndrome and the definition of shock no longer is descriptive in nature. The most accepted current definition involves an oxygen supply/demand imbalance that can have various causes-hypovolemia, cardiac dysfunction, vascular failure, or obstructive processes.

The crucifixion revisited.

This article is a follow up of an original article by the author on the crucifixion of Jesus published in the March 1989 issue of the JMSMA. The pathogenesis of the death of Jesus is still widely debated with vastly divergent views as to the specific cause of His death. The author's views have been challenged in the literature. As a result, he has done spirometry studies of volunteers hanging on a cross and has a better understanding of the physiology of the terminal events. That information is presented in this update.