title: [Bilateral oophorectomy in the woman in late 19th century. Methodological value of castration for discovery of ovarian hormones].
abstract: In 1872, the castration of women was introduced as a therapeutic procedure. The ovaries were mainly removed because of nervous and mental diseases, uterine fibromyomata with menorrhagia, osteomalacia and carcinoma of the breast. These partially successful operations led to various hypotheses on the mechanism of ovarian action. It was only in 1895 that the cessation of hormonal production was assumed to be responsible for the effects of ovarian removal. The hypothesis of an internal secretion of the ovaries was eventually clearly supported by animal experiments around 1900.
mesh_terms: D002369:Castration / Q000266:history*; D005260:Female; D049672:History, 19th Century; D006728:Hormones / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D010053:Ovary / Q000502:physiology*; D010060:Ovulation
chemical_list: D006728:Hormones
vernacular_title: Bilaterale Oophorektomie der Frau im späten 19. Jahrhundert. Zum methodologischen Wert der Kastration für die Entdekkung ovarieller Hormone.