The Vibrator - a Medical Device?

The history of the Vibrator is indeed a very old and interesting one!

There is a section in the London Science Museum especially dedicated which shows over 40 types of vibrators from the late 1800′s to the early 1900′s!

The Vibrator has also recently been brought to stage Productions of – ‘In the next room’ by Darah Ruhl on Broadway and ‘Hysteria’ – a film based on the story of Dr Joseph Mortimer Granville who was said to have invented the first electro mechanical vibrator in 1880

Vibrators were used in these earlier times for treatment of female hysteria – although, nowadays – it tends to be the cause of it!

Symptoms of Female Hysteria at that time were anxiety, insomnia, irritability and fluid retention and were thought at that time to be caused by a ‘wayward womb’ – a pelvic massage was often the prescription of choice performed by the Midwife.

In the late 1800′s, this treatment was then taken to the next level and mechanical vibrators were initially invented as medical devices to be used by Doctors to rid these female patients of their ‘neurosis’

According to Vanessa Thorpe, writing in the Observer, vibrators were available before the iron or vacuum cleaner!

‘Good Housekeeping’ in 1909 was enlightened enough to run a feature discussing the pros and cons of various types of home vibrators.

One of the manufacturers in this time even produced a home motor to which a vibrator could be attached!This model was a multi tasking appliance, for when not being used to power the vibrator, it could be used to run a sewing machine or drive a churn!

I wonder what our hysterical female audience think of this – dare to comment?!!!!………….