Jules Joseph Dejerine: an outstanding neurologist and Charcot's enemy

Abstract

Jules Joseph Dejerine (1849-1917) became renowned for his many contributions to neurology, including his anatomical and anatomo-functional studies, particularly those in the field of language and the peripheral nervous system. A disciple of Vulpian and a rival of Charcot, Dejerine progressed rapidly in the academic world, reaching the peak of his career in 1911, when he was appointed to the chair of Nervous System Diseases at the Salpêtrière Hospital after defeating Pierre Marie (1853-1940), one of the most distinguished pupils of Jean-Martin Charcot (1825-1893).

The expulsion of Augusta Dejerine-Klumpke from the Salpêtrière Hospital: Pierre Marie's revenge

“…6 Marie disfavored the Dejerine couple, as both were Vulpian's students, had no neurological training at the Salpêtrière, and Marie opposed the ideas on aphasia localization that the Dejerines defended. [1][2][3]5,6,10,14,[16][17][18] In addition to professional rivalries, there is unproven evidence that antagonism of social classes played a role in this schism, since Pierre Marie was from the French bourgeoisie, upper middle class, married to a woman from a wealthy family, while Dejerine was related to modest peasants from Switzerland. 3,5,6,11,14,15 After her expulsion, Madame Dejerine-Klumpke was aided by her friend Maurice Letulle (1853-1929), Pierre Marie's successor to the chair of pathological anatomy, who stored her collection in his department.…”

“…In the same year, a new public contest was instituted, and Dejerine was chosen as the new head, defeating Pierre Marie. [1][2][3]5,6 This fact escalated the rivalry between Marie and Dejerine, which was already quite evident with the famous duels between them, including the so-called debate of aphasias in Paris, which occurred in the year 1908. 1,6,[15][16][17][18] In the year 1917, Dejerine died, and a new competition was opened to choose the new head of Chair of Diseases of the Nervous System at the Salpêtrière hospital, with the selection of Pierre Marie.…”

“…1 2 3 6 This rivalry involved Jules Dejerine's wife, Augusta Dejerine-Klumpke (1859–1927). 1 2 3 6 7 8 9 10 11…”

“…[1][2][3] Dejerine's strong personality led him to behave as an intellectual and scientific rival for Charcot and his disciples, especially concerning one of his most faithful pupils: Pierre Marie (1853-1940), [1][2][3][4][5][6] competing for academic influence within different areas of neurology. [1][2][3]6 This rivalry involved Jules Dejerine's wife, Augusta Dejerine-Klumpke (1859-1927). [1][2][3][6][7][8][9][10][11] In this historical report, we discuss the expulsion of Augusta Dejerine-Klumpke of the Salpêtrière in 1917, after approval by Pierre Marie, as head of the chair Clinics of Diseases of the Nervous System.…”

The Duels of Pierre Marie and Jules Dejerine

“…In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, 2 prominent neurologists, Pierre Marie, one of Professor Jean-Martin Charcot’s most devoted disciples, and Jules Dejerine, a disciple of Felix Alfred Vulpian, one of Charcot’s closest friends, made pivotal contributions to the development of the field [3, 4]. At that time, the French School of Neurology was recognized worldwide as one of the most influential in the world, while Hospital de la Salpêtrière in Paris was considered the Mecca of neurology [3].…”