Edward Flatau (1868–1932), Samual Goldflam (1852–1932) and Józef Babinski (1857–1932): Polish pioneers in neurology

Abstract

Flatau, Goldflam and Babinski originated from the Russian area of partitioned Poland in the 19th century and knew each other. Each contributed significantly to neurology at a time of adversity in Polish academic life because of the political situation. This paper in the main is centred on Flatau and Goldflam; Babinski, the most recognised of the three, is included for comparison. They all died in 1932, when Poland had been an independent sovereignty since the end of the First World War in 1918.

Edward Flatau (1868–1932) and his eponym

“…Waldeyer (1836-1921), Dr. Flatau, and many well-known scientists became supporters of the neuron theory [6]. Using the Nissl method, Dr. Flatau performed many experimental studies to test the neuron theory and observed subsequent secondary changes from the severance of the oculomotor nerve [6].…”

“…Waldeyer (1836-1921), Dr. Flatau, and many well-known scientists became supporters of the neuron theory [6]. Using the Nissl method, Dr. Flatau performed many experimental studies to test the neuron theory and observed subsequent secondary changes from the severance of the oculomotor nerve [6]. Using Golgi and Marchi methods, he performed experimental works on dogs, rabbits, and rodents to study secondary degeneration after limb amputation and to observe the loss of function following spinal cord injury [9].…”

“…Edward Flatau was not the exception among many scientists. In 1886, he went to the University of Moscow for his medical education [6]. In Moscow, he was greatly influenced by the Russian psychiatrist Sergei Sergeievich Korsakoff (1854-1900) and the neurologist and psychiatrist Alexis Jakovlevich Kozhevnikof [6,9].…”

“…This atlas was based on his own photographs of the brain and spinal cord obtained from the Neuropsychiatric Institute of Emanuel Mendel (1839-1907) [6,8]. He also provided schematic chromolithograph in color which demonstrated the laminar arrangement of the spinal tracts [6].…”

“…In 1894, at the age of 26, Edward Flatau published a monograph entitled Atlas des menschlichen Gehirns und des Faserverlaufes (Atlas of the human brain and the course of the nerve fibers) which was originally published in German [2] and next translated into English, French, Russian, and Polish [6,8,9]. This atlas was based on his own photographs of the brain and spinal cord obtained from the Neuropsychiatric Institute of Emanuel Mendel (1839-1907) [6,8]. He also provided schematic chromolithograph in color which demonstrated the laminar arrangement of the spinal tracts [6].…”