Chapters on Mental Physiology

First published in 1852, Holland's book on mental physiology is a fascinating insight into nineteenth-century medical thought. Holland (1788–1873), who was physician to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, investigates the connections between mental and physical health, assessing how mental activity and illness impact the human body.

Sir Henry Holland (1788–1873), physician and travel writer, was one of the best known and sought-after doctors in nineteenth-century Britain. He was medical attendant to Queen Caroline, the wife of George IV, and was appointed physician-extraordinary to Queen Victoria on her accession in 1837. Holland also counted six British prime ministers among his patients. He received honorary degrees from Oxford and Harvard, and served as president of the Royal Society three times. First published in 1852, Holland's book on mental physiology explores the medical links between mind and body, including the ways in which sleep, insanity, memory, age, instincts, and habits affect the human body and nervous system. Parts of this work also appeared in Holland's earlier publication, Medical Notes and Reflections (1839). While many of the theories on which he writes (such as phrenology) have since been discredited, Holland's book remains an intriguing insight into Victorian medical science.