Spinal cord disease in the work of Jean Cruveilhier: a few little-known neurological gems

J. J. Zarranz
Neurosciences and History 2021;9(1):1-13

Type of article: ORIGINAL

AUTHOR

J. J. Zarranz
Emeritus chair. Department of Neuroscience. Universidad del País Vasco, Lejona, Vizcaya, Spain.

ABSTRACT

Introduction. Jean Cruveilhier (1791-1874) was a physician at several Parisian hospitals and the first chair of anatomical pathology. He created a vast body of work, with the key text being his Anatomie pathologique du corps humain, which may be considered a masterpiece of empirical medicine based on the anatomoclinical method. Despite including numerous descriptions of nervous system pathologies, neither the book nor its author have received the interest they deserve among neurologists.

Material and methods. All of the livraisons (submissions) of Anatomie pathologique that address spinal cord diseases were reviewed with a view to highlighting the interest of Cruveilhier’s work for today’ s neurologists.

Results. After briefly summarising Cruveilhier’s biography, I present the main findings regarding spinal cord diseases in his book, according to the classification that he proposes, highlighting his efforts to develop semiology in order to diagnose living patients. Cruveilhier was the first author to describe degeneration of the dorsal spinal roots and “grey degeneration” (multiple sclerosis), contributing the clinical symptoms of these patients.

Conclusion. Cruveilhier has undeservedly been forgotten, and should be considered an early proponent of neurology at the Salpêtrière, several decades before Charcot.

KEYWORDS

Cruveilhier, spinal cord, haematomyelia, spinal cord tumour, multiple sclerosis, Charcot

Neurosciences and History 2021;9(1):1-13