James Jackson Putnam
Encyclopedia
James Jackson Putnam was a United States neurologist
. Born in Boston
, Massachusetts and graduated from Harvard University
in 1866. He went to Europe to study in the company of Baron Carl von Rokitansky , Theodor Herman Meynert and John Hughlings Jackson
. On his return to the Massachusetts General Hospital
he opened a clinic which became the Department of Neurology at Harvard Medical School. Putnam was a founder member of the American Neurological Association
in December 1874, and was its president in 1888, and also a founding member of the American Psychoanalytical Association in 1911, being its first president and continuing to hold the post the following year. He was appointed Professor of Diseases of the Nervous System at Harvard in 1893 and continued to his retirement in 1912.
In 1900 he was one of the signatories of the “Protest of the Friends of the Present Management of the New York Pathological Institute” together with S. Weir Mitchell, Percival Bailey
, Ira Van Gieson
, Morton Prince
, Frederick Peterson
and many others. Putnam was one of those instrumental in bringing Sigmund Freud
to the United States in 1907 and became increasingly interested in psychoneurosis and the use of psychotherapy
contributing to The Encyclopedia of the Self, writing papers on The Necessity of Metaphysics and Human Motives, both later published as books. He also wrote the introduction to the translation from the German of Sigmund Freud
's The Theory of Sex
He made a number of contributions to neurology and medicine in general for example highlighting the fact that hyperthyroidism
may terminate in myxoedema. He also did very early investigative work on the basal ganglia
.
Putnam has given his name to Putnam’s acroparaesthesia, a condition characterized by numbness, tingling, anaesthesia and discolouration of the hands on waking in the morning. Together with Charles L. Dana M.D.(1852–1935) he also described the Putnam-Dana syndrome which is a form of generalized subacute neurological degeneration caused by Vit.B12 deficiency.
Neurologist
A neurologist is a physician who specializes in neurology, and is trained to investigate, or diagnose and treat neurological disorders.Neurology is the medical specialty related to the human nervous system. The nervous system encompasses the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves. A specialist...
. Born in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts and graduated from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1866. He went to Europe to study in the company of Baron Carl von Rokitansky , Theodor Herman Meynert and John Hughlings Jackson
John Hughlings Jackson
John Hughlings Jackson, FRS , was an English neurologist.- Biography :He was born at Providence Green, Green Hammerton, near Harrogate, Yorkshire, the youngest son of Samuel Jackson, a yeoman who owned and farmed his land, and the former Sarah Hughlings, the daughter of a Welsh revenue collector...
. On his return to the Massachusetts General Hospital
Massachusetts General Hospital
Massachusetts General Hospital is a teaching hospital and biomedical research facility in the West End neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts...
he opened a clinic which became the Department of Neurology at Harvard Medical School. Putnam was a founder member of the American Neurological Association
American Neurological Association
The American Neurological Association, is a professional society with a mission of educating neurologists and physicians as well as increasing knowledge and enhancing treatment of diseases of the nervous system. It was founded in June 1875.-Officers:...
in December 1874, and was its president in 1888, and also a founding member of the American Psychoanalytical Association in 1911, being its first president and continuing to hold the post the following year. He was appointed Professor of Diseases of the Nervous System at Harvard in 1893 and continued to his retirement in 1912.
In 1900 he was one of the signatories of the “Protest of the Friends of the Present Management of the New York Pathological Institute” together with S. Weir Mitchell, Percival Bailey
Percival Bailey
Percival Sylvester Bailey was an American neuropathologist, neurosurgeon and psychiatrist who was a native of rural southern Illinois. He originally studied to became a teacher at Illinois Normal University, but transferred to the University of Chicago in 1912, where he became interested in...
, Ira Van Gieson
Ira Van Gieson
Ira Thompson Van Gieson was an American neurologist, psychiatrist, bacteriologist and neuropathologist....
, Morton Prince
Morton Prince
Morton Henry Prince was an American physician who specialized in neurology and abnormal psychology, and was a leading force in establishing psychology as a clinical and academic discipline. He was part of a handful of men who disseminated European ideas about psychopathology, especially in...
, Frederick Peterson
Frederick Peterson (neurologist)
Frederick Peterson was an American neurologist and poet. Peterson was at the forefront of psychoanalysis in the United States, publishing one of the first articles of Freud and Jung's theories of Free Association in 1909....
and many others. Putnam was one of those instrumental in bringing Sigmund Freud
Sigmund Freud
Sigmund Freud , born Sigismund Schlomo Freud , was an Austrian neurologist who founded the discipline of psychoanalysis...
to the United States in 1907 and became increasingly interested in psychoneurosis and the use of psychotherapy
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a general term referring to any form of therapeutic interaction or treatment contracted between a trained professional and a client or patient; family, couple or group...
contributing to The Encyclopedia of the Self, writing papers on The Necessity of Metaphysics and Human Motives, both later published as books. He also wrote the introduction to the translation from the German of Sigmund Freud
Sigmund Freud
Sigmund Freud , born Sigismund Schlomo Freud , was an Austrian neurologist who founded the discipline of psychoanalysis...
's The Theory of Sex
He made a number of contributions to neurology and medicine in general for example highlighting the fact that hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism is the term for overactive tissue within the thyroid gland causing an overproduction of thyroid hormones . Hyperthyroidism is thus a cause of thyrotoxicosis, the clinical condition of increased thyroid hormones in the blood. Hyperthyroidism and thyrotoxicosis are not synonymous...
may terminate in myxoedema. He also did very early investigative work on the basal ganglia
Basal ganglia
The basal ganglia are a group of nuclei of varied origin in the brains of vertebrates that act as a cohesive functional unit. They are situated at the base of the forebrain and are strongly connected with the cerebral cortex, thalamus and other brain areas...
.
Putnam has given his name to Putnam’s acroparaesthesia, a condition characterized by numbness, tingling, anaesthesia and discolouration of the hands on waking in the morning. Together with Charles L. Dana M.D.(1852–1935) he also described the Putnam-Dana syndrome which is a form of generalized subacute neurological degeneration caused by Vit.B12 deficiency.
Selected Bibliography
- Nathan G Hale:
- James Jackson Putnam and Psychoanalysis: Letters Between Putnam and Sigmund Freud, Ernest Jones, William James, Sandor Ferenczi, and Morton Prince, 1877-1917, Publisher: Harvard University Press; 1st edition (1971), ISBN 0674471709
- Freud and the Americans: The Beginnings of Psychoanalysis in the United States, 1876-1917 (Freud in America), Publisher: Oxford University Press,First Edition edition (1971), ISBN 0195014278