Désiré Bourneville: A Socialist in Charcot’s Inner Circle

Abstract

Désiré Bourneville was one of Jean-Martin Charcot’s most important disciples. His previous works as an alienist allowed him to influence his master’s interest in hysteria, which led to the creation of a service regarded as a neurological mecca. During his time under Charcot, Bourneville, a passionate left-wing radical, had to coexist with characters representative of the conservative, <i>bourgeois</i> Parisian society. The aim of this study is to describe Bourneville’s life and work, as well as the ambiguity of a progressive man such as him, immersed within the economic and cultural elites.

Jean-Martin Charcot: the polymath

“…Even though he was not politically engaged, Charcot had liberal ideas, and even though he was tolerant in religious matters, he was clearly anti-clerical. 3 106 111 Nevertheless, his wake in the chapel of the La Salpêtrière and burial in the Montmartre cemetery were performed within Catholic norms. 2 3 6 7 111 112 Some biography data suggest that Charcot, in the final phase of his life, came to admire Buddhism.…”

“…3 106 111 Nevertheless, his wake in the chapel of the La Salpêtrière and burial in the Montmartre cemetery were performed within Catholic norms. 2 3 6 7 111 112 Some biography data suggest that Charcot, in the final phase of his life, came to admire Buddhism. 113…”

Les démoniaques dans l'art: Charcot and the “hysterical saints”

“…His contact with the works of Pierre Janet and Briquet, besides the influence of Desirée Bourneville, one of the few of his pupils with experience with alienism, were determinants for his interest in hysteria. 8 9 10 …”

“…His contact with the works of Pierre Janet and Briquet, besides the influence of Desirée Bourneville, one of the few of his pupils with experience with alienism, were determinants for his interest in hysteria. [8][9][10] Charcot had strong political and religious standpoints. An anti-clerical and fierce defendant of laicism in all scientific investigations, Charcot opposed religious intervention in scientifical affairs.…”

“…11 Les démoniaques dans l'art was preceded by the start of Bourneville's work, the Bibliothèque diabolique, nine books, published between 1882 and 1902. 10 In the third volume of his collection, Bourneville published writings attributed to Johan Wier (1515-1588), the first to consider the victims as sick and to oppose the use of exorcism. Bourneville's initiative is possibly the first step of Charcot-Richer's work.…”