The impossible succession of Charcot - The quest for a suitable heir

Abstract

With the death of Jean-Martin Charcot (1825-1893) in 1893 came the impossible task of finding a suitable successor. The clinical chair for nervous system diseases was temporarily entrusted to Édouard Brissaud (1852-1909). There were a number of potential successors, but only three were officially declared: Brissaud, Jules Déjerine (1849-1917) and Fulgence Raymond (1844-1910). In the final vote, Raymond was appointed as Charcot's successor. Although this succession would prove too great a challenge for him, Raymond's work in neurology, which is often unrecognised, made him one of the most important French neurologists of the early 20th century. Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel.