The trial of David Ferrier, November 1881: Context, proceedings, and aftermath.

In November 1881, the eminent physiologist and physician David Ferrier was prosecuted under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876. The prosecution was raised by the Victoria Street Society, formerly known as the Society for the Protection of Animals Liable to Vivisection, through its activist founder, Frances Power Cobbe. This article examines the legislative context prior to Ferrier's trial, the personalities involved in the prosecution, and its course and outcome.

The advent of epilepsy directed neurosurgery: The early pioneers and who was first.

Efforts to treat epileptic seizures likely date back to primitive, manmade skull openings or trephinations at the site of previous scalp or skull injuries. The purpose may have been the release of "evil spirits," removal of "cerebral excitement," and "restoral of bodily and intellectual functions." With progressive discoveries in brain function over the past 100 to 300 years, the cerebral cortical locations enabling voluntary movements, sensation, and speech have been well delineated.

Religion, spirituality, and epilepsy.

This review provides responses to four questions on epilepsy, religion, and spirituality. Firstly, have early religious beliefs and writings stigmatized and discriminated against epilepsy and if so, what has been done to correct this? We provide textual evidence suggesting an affirmative response. Secondly, which religious luminaries, gods, saints, and religious symbols have connections with epilepsy? We argue that the evidence to suggest that St Paul, Joan of Arc, the Prophet Mohammed, and others had epilepsy is weak and emphasizes the limitations of imposing contemporary neurological frameworks upon them.