I
Anton Sebastian in A Dictionary of the History of Medicine, 2018
This civilization which equaled that of the Mayans of Yucatan lasted for nearly 500 years until the invasion of the Spaniards in 1532. Incas practiced embalming and the mummies of their rulers were prepared in a sitting posture and preserved in the Sun Temple at Cuzco. They regarded disease as sent from the gods and resorted to prayer, fasting and religious rituals. Their materia medica contained quinine and coca, and their physicians practiced venesection. Incantation [Latin: incantare, enchant] Ritual chanting of charms or spells practiced by many primitive races to drive out the devils or evil spirits which cause disease. Babylonian clay tablets have revealed the practice of exorcisms and incantations practiced by the Assipu priests and Babylonian physicians to relieve pain. Some African medicine-men made their living by writing prayers and incantations on a board and selling the water which was used to wash them. The Athara veda and RigVeda systems of medicine of the Indian Brahmins originally contained a mixture of incantations, herbals and witchcraft. Aetius of Amida (AD 502–575), the first Christian physician of note, employed charms and incantations in preparing his remedies and treating his patients. See temple medicine, Babylonian medicine. Incest [Latin: incestus, unchaste] Sexual intercourse between closely related persons. Practiced by ancients Egyptians, Iranians and other races to preserve the bloodline and dynasty. Cleopatra was married to her brother Ptolemy. Incest is prohibited by the Incest Acts of Scotland (1867) and England (1908). Incisors [Latin: incidere, to cut into] Any of the four anterior teeth in the jaw. Teeth were first classified into molars, bicuspids, cuspids and incisors by John Hunter (1728–1793) in A Practical Treatise on the Diseases of the Teeth published in 1778. Inclusion Bodies [Latin: inclusio, to shut] First observed by Stanislaus Joseph von Prowazek (1875–1915) in 1907, he postulated that they were collections of virus enveloped by material deposited from an infected cell. Herpes inclusions within the nucleus of cells in man and animals were discovered by Benjamin Lipschutz (1878–1921) in 1920 and by A. Luger in 1921. Incontinence Galen (AD 129–200) remarked that incontinence is caused by injury of the spinal marrow either through violence or application of cold. According to Avicenna (980–1037) it is occasioned by relaxation of the muscles (sphincter vesicae), or weakness of the bladder. Haly Abbas (930–994), an Arabian physician, considered the cause to be enervation of sphincter vesicae and loss of the retentive faculty of the bladder.
Understanding aging in families
George E. Dickinson, Brenda S. Sanders in Aging in the Family, 2018
In defining what is meant by family, one approach could be in terms of function. What is it that the family does for an individual and for society? Firstly, procreation (having children) comes from a familial environment (single parent or otherwise) and is that which produces the individual and provides future members. Secondly, an individual’s identity comes from a family under the guise of ascribed status, handed to us at birth and includes socioeconomic position and physical characteristics. Thirdly, family settings regulate sexual behavior through incest taboos. Having an incestuous relationship with a close biological family member comes close to being a universal taboo. Fourthly, socialization for the individual occurs within a familial environment. The family teaches the child what is acceptable and what is not. Fifthly, taking care (physical, emotional, and financial), as done to children who are dependent on others for survival, may also be extended to older adults who at some point may become dependent on others to care for. From an anthropological perspective, the economic unit aspect of the definition of family is the essential ingredient of a family. Individuals come together to cooperate in the production and distribution of goods and services. It is the “cheaper by the dozen” argument. Two or more can accomplish more, through working together in a division of labor, than can one individual working alone. “A family relationship is more efficient” is another way of saying this.
Sexual Abuse
David F. O'Connell in Dual Disorders, 2014
Although there are many forms of sexual abuse and not all incestuous activities may be considered abusive, Courtois (1988) tells us that “incest between an adult and a related child or adolescent is now recognized as the most prevalent form of child sexual abuse and as one with great potential for damage to the child.”For the purposes of this discussion, incestuous abuse (incest) is defined as any sexual behavior that leads to the exploitation of a child by an older person for his/her own satisfaction without regard for the child's development (Steele, 1986). Incest as a traumatic event—one that produces stressful memories—is discussed later in this chapter. Compared with sexual abuse by a stranger, incest has a greater potential for lasting emotional damage due to the dynamics of betrayal, secrecy, shame, and conflicting loyalties; this, too, is discussed more fully later. In a community-based probability sample, Russell (1986) found that 19 percent of the 930 women interviewed reported incest experiences. She believes that the prevalence of child sexual abuse has increased due to a number of factors, including child pornography, sexualization of the child, the sexual revolution, backlash against gender equality, untreated child sexual abuse, and the increased number of stepfamilies. The prevalence rate for boys is conservatively estimated to be from 2 to 9 percent. Various social factors (such as social class, mother's employment, race, and religion) have been assessed as to their association with incest (Finkelhor, 1984; Weinberg, 1976; Wyatt, 1985). Some studies find an increased risk of incest among families in rural areas, while others show an increased risk among high-income families. It is clear from these studies that incest can occur in any family, regardless of race, religion, location, or class. Although the exact nature of the correlation is not known, numerous studies have documented an association between chemical dependency and child neglect and abuse, including incest. Evans and Schaefer (1987) reviewed studies of chemically dependent women, showing the prevalence of reported incest history ranges from 40 to 70 percent. Physical violence is seldom a factor in incest; verbal threats are usually sufficient to gain the child's compliance. Most incest victims are between ten and thirteen at the first incest experience; however, a third of first incidents occur before the child is ten. Most incest occurs repeatedly over a period of years and ends through the victim's efforts (such as leaving home or threatening to tell). Very few cases of incest come to light at the time they occur. There are many reasons for this silence, including the child's fear, parents' and law officials' disbelief, and the child's need to maintain family integrity.
Some Epidemiological Characteristics of Perpetrators and Victims of Incest in Contemporary Ghana: Analysis of Media Reports
Published in Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 2017
Emmanuel N.-B. Quarshie, Joseph Osafo, Charity S. Akotia, Jennifer Peprah, Johnny Andoh-Arthur
In Ghana, incest is considered sinful, taboo, and illegal. However, recent media reports show that incest has become a daily reality in Ghana. This study is a situational analysis of the pattern of incest in Ghana as reported in the media from January 2008 through July 2015. Qualitative content analysis was conducted on 48 incest news reports in Ghana. The findings showed that father–daughter incest was most frequent across the study period. Forty-seven females aged 3 to 25 years and a male aged 3 years were identified as victims. Generally, the incest lasted between 1 day and 13 years before disclosure. Perpetrators employed psychological and/or physical methods to coerce their victims. Marital difficulties, diabolical control, and seduction by victim featured prominently as alleged motives behind the abuse. The study observes that the recent increase in father–daughter incest warrants an immediate shift of research attention onto men’s mental health in Ghana.
Sibling incest: A literature review and a clinical study
Published in Journal of Sexual Aggression, 2010
Inga Tidefors, Hans Arvidsson, Sara Ingevaldson, Michael Larsson
Few previous studies have explored the characteristics and dynamics of adolescent sibling incest. The objectives of this paper were twofold: first, to conduct a literature review that accounts for earlier research in the area, and secondly, to conduct a clinical study to explore differences regarding the characteristics of a group of adolescent sibling incest offenders (n=21) compared to a group of adolescent non-sibling offenders (n=24). Comparisons were made regarding variables such as family dysfunction, the offenders' prior victimization and offending behaviour. The data were derived from intake assessment files and semi-structured interviews with 45 adolescents who had sexually offended. The sibling incest offender group had grown up more often in dysfunctional families. Moreover, the results indicated that the offending behaviour in the sibling incest group was more severe. The study gives some empirical support for the possibility that sibling incest can be one sign, among others, of maltreatment during childhood.
Forensic Evaluation in Alleged Sibling Incest Against Children
Published in Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 2014
Vera Falcão, Patrícia Jardim, Ricardo Jorge Dinis-Oliveira, Teresa Magalhães
Sibling incest is a serious form of intrafamilial sexual abuse with health, social, and legal relevance. A retrospective study was conducted through the analysis of forensic medical reports of the alleged sibling incest of victims under 18 years old (n = 68) from 2004 to 2011 as well as the respective judicial outcomes. Results demonstrated that sibling’s sexual abuse is associated with several circumstances that might exacerbate its severity such as vaginal, anal, and/or oral penetration. Moreover, the victim’s young age, the proximity between victim and abuser, and the fact that it is committed at the victim’s and/or abuser’s home and by using physical violence and verbal threats justify a late detection of these cases.
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