Vibrators in history: Were they a 'cure' for hysteria? [audio 8min]

According to Victorian medical records, some doctors treated women thought to be suffering from hysteria with a vibrator, in order to induce orgasm. This scenario features in the third episode of the BBC One TV series, Casualty 1907, which portrays this ongoing practise. But just how widespread was this practice? Or was it simply easier to refer to sex toys euphemistically as instruments for medical ‘massage’? What were the motives of these male doctors? And what, exactly, did the female patients think was going on? Episode 3 of Casualty 1907 is on BBC1 on Sunday 13th April at 9pm.