George Miller Beard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George Miller Beard, M.D.
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| Born | May 8, 1839 |
| Died | January 23, 1883 (aged 43) |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York (MD, 1866) |
| Occupation | neurologist |
George Miller Beard was an American doctor who studied the brain and nerves. He lived from 1839 to 1883. He is famous for talking a lot about a condition called "neurasthenia."
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Life and Education
George Miller Beard was born in Montville, Connecticut, on May 8, 1839. His father was a minister. George went to Yale College and later became a doctor, graduating in 1866 from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York.
While he was still in medical school, during the American Civil War, he helped as a surgeon in the United States Navy. After the war, he got married. George Miller Beard passed away in New York City on January 23, 1883.
What Was Neurasthenia?
George Miller Beard is best known for describing a medical condition he called "neurasthenia." He believed it was caused by the nervous system running out of energy.
People with neurasthenia often felt very tired. They might also have anxiety, headaches, or feel sad. Beard thought this condition was linked to the busy and stressful life in cities. He believed people were trying to do more than their bodies could handle.
Studying the Startle Reflex
From 1878, Beard studied a very unusual behavior. He observed French-Canadian lumbermen in Maine who had an exaggerated startle reflex. This meant they would react very strongly if someone suddenly shouted a command at them.
They would often carry out the shouted instruction right away, even if it didn't make sense. This condition became known as the "Jumping Frenchmen of Maine." Beard's studies helped other researchers, including those in the military.
Electricity as Medicine
Beard was also very interested in using electricity as a medical treatment. He wrote many articles about how electricity could help people.
Advocacy for Mental Health
George Miller Beard was a strong supporter of making changes in how psychiatry worked. He helped start the National Association for the Protection of the Insane and the Prevention of Insanity. This group worked to improve care for people with mental health challenges. He also believed that people with mental illness should not face the death penalty.
Exploring New Forces
Beard also worked with the famous inventor Thomas Edison. Edison claimed he could send electrical influence without a direct current, calling it "etheric force." Beard helped study and describe this new idea. He thought this force was somewhere between light, heat, magnetism, and electricity.
Skepticism and Psychology
Beard was a skeptic about claims of the paranormal and spiritualism. He believed these were often based on tricks or misunderstandings. He wrote articles explaining the psychology behind these beliefs. He showed how some spiritualist mediums used tricks to fool people.
Coined "Muscle Reading"
In the 1870s, George Miller Beard also came up with the term "muscle reading." This term describes a method used by performers, like mentalists, to figure out what someone is thinking. They do this by subtly feeling tiny muscle movements or reactions from the person they are "reading."
