Robert Galbraith Heath
Encyclopedia
Dr. Robert Galbraith Heath (1915 - 24 September 1999) was an American
psychiatrist
. He followed the theory of biological psychiatry
that organic defects were the sole source of mental illness, and that consequently mental problems were treatable by physical means.
Heath founded the Department of Psychiatry and Neurology at Tulane University
, New Orleans
, in 1949 and remained its Chairman until 1980. He performed many experiments there involving electrical stimulation of the brain via surgically implanted electrodes. This work was partially financed by the CIA
and the US military. One of his collaborators was the Australian psychiatrist Harry Bailey
, who later reminisced that they had used African American
s as subjects "because they were everywhere and cheap experimental animals".
Heath also experimented with the drug bulbocapnine
to induce stupor, using prisoners in the Louisiana State Penitentiary
as experimental subjects. He later worked on schizophrenia
, which he regarded as an illness with a physical basis.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
psychiatrist
Psychiatry
Psychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the study and treatment of mental disorders. These mental disorders include various affective, behavioural, cognitive and perceptual abnormalities...
. He followed the theory of biological psychiatry
Biological psychiatry
Biological psychiatry, or biopsychiatry is an approach to psychiatry that aims to understand mental disorder in terms of the biological function of the nervous system. It is interdisciplinary in its approach and draws on sciences such as neuroscience, psychopharmacology, biochemistry, genetics and...
that organic defects were the sole source of mental illness, and that consequently mental problems were treatable by physical means.
Heath founded the Department of Psychiatry and Neurology at Tulane University
Tulane University
Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States...
, New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, in 1949 and remained its Chairman until 1980. He performed many experiments there involving electrical stimulation of the brain via surgically implanted electrodes. This work was partially financed by the CIA
Central Intelligence Agency
The Central Intelligence Agency is a civilian intelligence agency of the United States government. It is an executive agency and reports directly to the Director of National Intelligence, responsible for providing national security intelligence assessment to senior United States policymakers...
and the US military. One of his collaborators was the Australian psychiatrist Harry Bailey
Harry Bailey
Harry Richard Bailey was a controversial Australian psychiatrist. He bore the primary responsibility for treatment of mental patients via Sledge hammers, and other methods, at a Sydney mental hospital. He has been linked with the deaths of a total of 85 patients...
, who later reminisced that they had used African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
s as subjects "because they were everywhere and cheap experimental animals".
Heath also experimented with the drug bulbocapnine
Bulbocapnine
Bulbocapnine is an alkaloid found in Corydalis and Dicentra, herbs in the family Fumariaceae that can cause fatal poisoning in sheep and cattle...
to induce stupor, using prisoners in the Louisiana State Penitentiary
Louisiana State Penitentiary
The Louisiana State Penitentiary is a prison farm in Louisiana operated by the Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections. It is the largest maximum security prison in the United States with 5,000 offenders and 1,800 staff...
as experimental subjects. He later worked on schizophrenia
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by a disintegration of thought processes and of emotional responsiveness. It most commonly manifests itself as auditory hallucinations, paranoid or bizarre delusions, or disorganized speech and thinking, and it is accompanied by significant social...
, which he regarded as an illness with a physical basis.