Origin of the term "parentectomy"--exactly who was first person to use
the term and a reference (exact page and date and source) for term |
Request for Question Clarification by
directrix-ga
on
31 Aug 2003 12:02 PDT
The earliest use of the word that I could find was in a newspaper
article printed in 1990/91. Would a link to the article be an
acceptable answer? It does include the name of the person who said it.
Please let me know.
Thanks.
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Request for Question Clarification by
directrix-ga
on
31 Aug 2003 16:23 PDT
Scratch that. Another researcher has informed me that they've found
earlier references.
I'll head back to the drawing board.
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Clarification of Question by
sylk-ga
on
31 Aug 2003 17:10 PDT
A newspaper article would not be sufficient. I need a published
original source--not a secondary reference.
Thank you.
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Request for Question Clarification by
pafalafa-ga
on
31 Aug 2003 21:10 PDT
Just to let you know, I've got a definite reference to the term that
harks back to the mid-1950's and a prossible reference to use of the
term as far back as 1919.
It will take me a while...via interlibrary loan...to verify some of
the mid-50's references. I doubt I'll be able to uncover the 1919 to
see if/how the term was used, though it's possible some of the later
articles will provide a firm reference to the term in an earlier work.
Should I proceed -- knowing that it's unlikely that I can definitively
answer your question by unearthing papers from almost a century ago --
or would the mid-1950's references (if I can unearth those) suffice?
(The mid-1950's may very well be when the term was first used, but I
don't want to presume that and just ignore possible earlier uses).
Let me know what you think. In the mean time, I will unlock the
question in case another researcher has resources that I am not aware
of, and can track down the oldest papers on this topic.
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Request for Question Clarification by
pafalafa-ga
on
31 Aug 2003 21:24 PDT
I just realized that my "Request for Clarification" is, itself, in
need of clarification.
The bottom line is: will you be satisfied if I can identify a 1950's
article as the origin of the term, even if there's a vague indication
of even earlier use of the word "parentectomy"?
Or do you require absolute proof-positive that the mid-1950s was when
the term first appears?
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Clarification of Question by
sylk-ga
on
01 Sep 2003 05:59 PDT
Thank you for all your research. I need everything you can get
me--probably the reference from the mid-50's will help, but I really
need the first reference--whose term was it. I am in New York City
and a psychiatrist myself, so if you give me the references, I can
probably verify them myself (which I would need to do anyway.) As
long as I can verify the primary references, I would consider the
question answered. This reference is required for a bibliography for
a book.
Again, many thanks.
Sylvia
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Request for Question Clarification by
pafalafa-ga
on
01 Sep 2003 06:18 PDT
Thanks for getting back to me, and send my regards to my old home town
of NY (I used to live on Hudson Street, in the West Village).
It will take a week or so to get the library loans I'm waiting for, so
sit tight while I continue to look into the history here.
Dr. Murray Peshkin was the first to popularize the term, and may well
have actually coined it during his long career. Or...he may have
borrowed it from an earlier user....we'll see.
Stay tuned....
paf
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Request for Question Clarification by
pafalafa-ga
on
03 Sep 2003 12:43 PDT
Hello again,
A bit of an update (and a bit of a roadblock, as well):
According to my research, the term "parentectomy" was coined by Murray
Peshkin, a prominent asthma researcher active for a good part of the
20th century, until his death in 1980.
The closest I've come so far to an actual citation for the birth of
the term, is this passage in an article on "the story of
parentectomy":
"...in 1935, still searching for the elusive allergen, it occurred to
Peshkin to look over the records... It thus dawned on him that home
wasn't mere physical surroundings that harbored allergens: it was
also the place that contained the parents, of whom, vis-a-vis the
child, the more important normally was the mother. He coined the term
"parentectomy" for the procedure [of removing the child from the
home]and was severely criticized."
So it seems that Peshkin is your man, and 1935 is the date. But
unfortunately, the paper does not provide a reference for the original
1935 coinage.
So that's where I am at the moment...trying to track down the original
paper. I'll let you know if I have any luck.
pafalafa-ga
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Clarification of Question by
sylk-ga
on
03 Sep 2003 13:35 PDT
Hi!
I really do not believe that is the origin--I do need a primary
source. I'm going to ask around here in New York --possibly the
origin is from Gregory Bateson, but I have not been able to verify
that. If you like, I could cancel the question.
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Request for Question Clarification by
pafalafa-ga
on
03 Sep 2003 14:28 PDT
To cancel or not to cancel?
That's entirely up to you. But if you keep the question open, why
don't you let me know the facts and/or suspicions that you have
regarding the origins of this term. I"m curious as to why you would
reject Peshkin as the source?
I'm a fan of much of Bateson's work myself, and have read a lot of his
double-bind work. I can't recall having come across the parentectomy
term, although the concept certainly has a bit of a Batesonesque
flavor to it.
Anyway, please do let me know a bit more about what you suspect is the
origin and why. At this point, I'd like to know for my own
edification, as much as to assist me in answering the question.
Thanks.
paf
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Request for Question Clarification by
pafalafa-ga
on
11 Sep 2003 07:32 PDT
Hello again,
I've been digging into this some more and have found:
--a 1937 use of the term "parentectomy" in a newspaper article quoting
a medical researcher
--six early articles on the history and development of parentectomy
--possibly, a cite for original article introducing the term, though I
have not yet been able to confirm this.
Everything I've seen thus far points back to Peshkin as the one who
not only coined the term in the 1930's, but institutionalized the
practice of parentectomy as a treatment for children with serious
cases of chronic asthma. He believed these cases -- although
biologically based in an allergenic response -- also had a
psychosomatic component that could be treated via parentectomy.
Peshkin is widely known as the father of parentectomy. I have not
seen the term used in the context of other researchers like
Bateson...in all uses I have come across, Peshkin is acknowledged as
the originator of the term.
Since I have not yet been able to confirm the original 1935 reference
(though I'm still looking!) I have not posted my information as an
answer to your question. But if it seems to you that the information
I have would be useful to you in spite of the small degree of
uncertainty that remains, let me know, and I will be happy to post it
as an answer to your question.
pafalafa-ga
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Clarification of Question by
sylk-ga
on
11 Sep 2003 10:52 PDT
Hi!
Thank you for all your efforts, but there can be no uncertainty. I
need the reference for a bibliography for a book. It must be the
correct answer--I cannot afford to have it wrong. It must be 100%
documentable--or else it cannot count. I am assuming you are awaiting
the 1935 interlibirary loan reference.
Thank you,
Sylvia
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Request for Question Clarification by
pafalafa-ga
on
11 Sep 2003 11:46 PDT
Sorry...but even if/when I get a copy of the 1935 reference, I still
don't see how I (or anyone) can be 100% sure it is the first time the
term was ever used.
Perhaps another researcher will have better success, and be able to
provide you with the degree of certainity you need.
Good luck with the book you're working on.
paf
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