Little-Known Scientific Contributions of J-M Charcot

Jean-Martin Charcot: the polymath

“…15 His doctorate thesis, defended at the University of Paris in 1853, focused on the "Goutte Asthénique Primitive, Nodosités de Jointures, Rhumatisme Articulaire Chronique", providing a classical description of progressive chronic rheumatism and differentiating it from cases of gout, under the chairmanship of Piorry. [2][3][4]8,84 His talents as a draftsman are revealed in the plate of hands with deformed fingers illustrating his thesis (►Figure 4). 8 Throughout his career, Charcot remained knowledgeable about rheumatic diseases and gout, and in 1863, he reported Alfred Baring Garrod's (1814-1917) observation of the high frequency of gout in those with previous signs of lead intoxication.…”

“…8,85 Additionally, Charcot described an arthropathy in patients with tabes dorsalis, known worldwide as "Charcot's joint," and another articular disease related to diabetic foot arthropathy, referred to as "Charcot's arthropathy" or "diabetic Charcot's foot," which is associated with various types of neuropathic diseases, but which is undoubtedly much more common in patients with diabetes mellitus. [2][3][4]20,84 This condition predominantly affects the feet, leading to structural deformities and the risk of ulcers and even osteomyelitis. [2][3][4]84,[86][87][88] In 1835, Robert James Graves (1796-1853) described cases of tachycardia and thyroid enlargement in young women, attributing them to a cardiac lesion and creating the cardiovascular theory with William Stokes (1804-1878).…”

A contribuição de Charcot para o estudo da síndrome de Tourette

“…Charcot's extensive contributions to neurology are exceedingly well-known, particularly those related to multiple sclerosis (or sclerosis in plaques according to Charcot's original definition), lateral amyotrophic sclerosis (or Charcot's disease), Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (or hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy, according to the current definition), motor ataxia, Parkinson's disease, and Tourette syndrome, among other diseases 7,8,[15][16][17] . Concerning to Ts, Charcot's contribution can be broken down into a number of different elements.…”

Requiem for a neurologist: the funeral rites of Jean-Martin Charcot

“…Jean-Martin Charcot (1825-1893) is considered the father of modern neurology and one of the most important physicians and medical researchers of the 19 th century 1,2 . His tremendous contributions to science extended beyond neurology, a field in which he described countless diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and hysteria, to include internal medicine and its various subspecialties, such as rheumatology, pulmonology and geriatrics, as well as the specialties of orthopedics, pathology, psychiatry and psychology 1,2,3,4 .…”

“…His tremendous contributions to science extended beyond neurology, a field in which he described countless diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and hysteria, to include internal medicine and its various subspecialties, such as rheumatology, pulmonology and geriatrics, as well as the specialties of orthopedics, pathology, psychiatry and psychology 1,2,3,4 . Between 1872 and 1893, Charcot was the most renowned neurologist in the world, and the La Salpêtrière Hospital the mecca of international neurology 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 . At the height of his career, internationally famous and 67 years old, Charcot died suddenly on August 16, 1893, of acute pulmonary edema secondary to myocardial infarction while on a trip to the French countryside with some of his assistants 1,3,4,8 .…”