VIRUS Band 17, pp. 131-146, 2020/07/21
Schwerpunkt: Medikalisierte Kindheiten
Die neue Sorge um
das Kind vom ausgehenden 19. bis ins späte 20. Jahrhundert
The hormonal preparation Epiphysan was introduced at the Children’s Observation Ward in Innsbruck/Tyrol (Austria) by child psychiatrist and therapeutic pedagogue Maria Nowak-Vogl in 1952. It was administered to minors in order to treat their alleged sexual misbehavior in cases of masturbation or so-called “hypersexuality”. Epiphysan was extracted from the fresh pineal gland of young cattle and Nowak-Vogl administered it to her underage patients foralmost 30 years. By highlighting the practice of Epiphysan-administration at the Ward, it is not only possible to give insight into the treatment of children, who were ascribed sexually “abnormal” behavior on the part of parents or institutions, affirmed by the authority of Nowak-Vogl, but also into the handling of unwanted sexuality within the western Austrian welfare system.
Keywords: Epiphysan, 20th century, Tyrol/Austria, children’s observation ward, child psychiatry, Maria Nowak-Vogl, patient’s records, sexuality, masturbation
