Roberts Bartholow

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Roberts Bartholow

Roberts Bartholow (1831–1904) was an American physician and professor known for his contributions to neurology and psychiatry. He is most notably remembered for his controversial experiments on the human brain, which have sparked ethical debates in the field of medical research.

Early Life and Education

Roberts Bartholow was born in 1831 in New Windsor, Maryland. He pursued his medical education at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, where he graduated in 1852. Following his graduation, Bartholow began his medical practice and soon developed an interest in the nervous system and its functions.

Medical Career

Bartholow's career included various teaching positions at prominent medical schools. He served as a professor at the Medical College of Ohio in Cincinnati, where he conducted his most famous and controversial experiment.

The Mary Rafferty Experiment

In 1874, while at the Medical College of Ohio, Bartholow conducted an experiment on a patient named Mary Rafferty, who had a cranial defect due to a cancerous ulcer. Bartholow inserted electrodes into her brain to study the effects of electrical stimulation on the human brain. This experiment demonstrated that direct electrical stimulation could elicit motor responses and sensations, providing valuable insights into brain function. However, the experiment was highly criticized for its ethical implications, as it caused significant pain and suffering to the patient.

Contributions to Medicine

Despite the controversy surrounding his experiments, Bartholow made significant contributions to the understanding of the nervous system. His work laid the groundwork for future research in neuroscience and neurophysiology. He published several influential papers and books, including "A Practical Treatise on Materia Medica and Therapeutics" and "Medical Electricity."

Later Life and Legacy

Bartholow continued his medical practice and teaching career until his death in 1904. His work remains a subject of study and discussion in the fields of medical ethics and the history of neuroscience. The ethical concerns raised by his experiments have influenced the development of modern ethical standards in medical research.

See Also

• Neurology
• Neurophysiology
• Medical ethics
• History of neuroscience