The pathology laboratory at the Hôpital Bicêtre was established in 1877 under the direction of Joseph Jules Dejerine, marking a transition into his intensive study of nervous system disorders. Throughout his career, he bridged the gap between anatomical research and clinical diagnosis, focusing on the mechanisms of brain localization and the physiological roots of various neurological syndromes.
Early Career and Education
Born in Geneva in 1849 to French parents, Dejerine initially engaged in volunteer medical work at a local hospital during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. By the spring of 1871, he moved to Paris to pursue formal training at the Paris Medical Faculty. Under the mentorship of Alfred Vulpian, he began to refine his expertise in the burgeoning field of neurology, eventually earning his Doctor of Medicine degree.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Clinical Appointments and Research
Dejerine held prominent clinical positions, notably at the Bicêtre Hospital and later at the Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital. In 1886, he was appointed professeur agrégé and received the Montyon Science Award. By 1911, he secured a senior position as professor of neurology at the University of Paris. His research output was extensive, spanning over four decades and resulting in major publications such as the two-volume Anatomie des centres nerveux, co-authored with his wife, Augusta Déjerine-Klumpke.
Contributions to Neurology
His work significantly advanced the study of brain function localization. He identified that lesions within the supramarginal and angular gyri could result in pure alexia. Furthermore, his clinical descriptions defined several conditions, including the thalamic syndrome alongside Gustave Roussy, and the Dejerine-Sottas disease in collaboration with Jules Sottas. He also contributed to the understanding of hereditary muscular dystrophy in partnership with Louis Théophile Joseph Landouzy.
Final Years
During World War I, Dejerine worked in a military hospital, where the resulting physical stress contributed to his decline in health. He died in Paris in 1917 at the age of 68 from uremia. He was buried at Père Lachaise Cemetery. Throughout his professional life, he remained an active member of the Académie Nationale de Médecine and a Knight of the Legion of Honour.
Fast facts
- Born: 1849, Geneva
- Died: 1917, Paris
- Field: Neurology
- Education: Paris Medical Faculty
- Spouse: Augusta Déjerine-Klumpke
- Major Award: Montyon Science Award (1886)
- Burial Site: Père Lachaise Cemetery
Questions readers ask
What is the Dejerine-Klumpke paralysis?
It is a lower brachial plexus paralysis occurring during birth, particularly noted in breech deliveries, named after his wife, Augusta Dejerine-Klumpke.
Did Dejerine focus solely on anatomy?
No, in his later career he became interested in psychology, arguing that the personality of the therapist is critical in clinical interactions.
Achievements
- Knight of the Legion of Honour
- Held posts at Bicêtre Hospital and Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital
.jpg)