Charles Samson Féré served as the chief medical officer at the Hospice Bicêtre starting in 1887, a position he held until his death in 1907. Throughout his career in France, he navigated the intersections of neurology, psychology, and psychiatry, contributing to a diverse range of academic inquiries during the late nineteenth century.
Early Training and Influences
Born in 1852 in Auffay, Féré attended the Lycée Pierre-Corneille. He pursued medical studies in Rouen, gaining early experience at the Hôtel-Dieu under the guidance of the surgeon Achille Flaubert. By 1877, he secured an internship in Paris. His professional trajectory shifted significantly in 1881 when he began a role as an assistant to Jean-Martin Charcot. Charcot remained a primary influence on Féré's clinical and academic development for the duration of his career.
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Féré produced extensive written work covering heredity, Darwinism, hypnosis, and criminology. In 1887, he collaborated with Alfred Binet to publish Le Magnétisme animal. Subsequent publications included Dégénérescence et criminalité in 1888 and La Pathologie des émotions in 1892. His later interests included La Famille névropathique in 1894 and L'instinct sexuel: évolution et dissolution in 1899. Within his psychological research, he introduced the term hallucination altruiste to describe specific sensory experiences where feelings are attributed to another person.
Professional Affiliations and Membership
His engagement with the medical and scientific community was documented through his membership in several organizations. Féré was a participant in the Society of Anthropology of Paris, the Société médico-psychologique, and the Society for Psychical Research. These roles supported his broad investigations into medical science and human behavior.
Fast facts
- Born: 1852, Auffay
- Died: 1907, Paris
- Education: Lycée Pierre-Corneille
- Chief medical officer: Hospice Bicêtre
- Notable collaborator: Jean-Martin Charcot
- Co-authored with: Alfred Binet
Questions readers ask
What specific term did Charles Féré introduce to neurology?
He introduced the term hallucination altruiste, which refers to a hallucination where a sensation or wish is attributed to another individual.
Where did Féré spend the final two decades of his career?
He served as the chief medical officer at the Hospice Bicêtre from 1887 until his death in 1907.
