Abstract Details

Title Charcot's 1886 Preface to Sœur Jeanne des Anges : Autobiographie d'une hysterique possédée: An English Rendition

Topic Research Methodology, ��ɫ��, and History

Presentation(s) P4 - Poster Session 4 (5:30 PM-6:30 PM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 4-059

Objective To provide an English translation of the preface that Jean-Martin Charcot (1825-1893) wrote for the book Sœur Jeanne des Anges, supérieure des Ursulines de Loudun (XVIIe siècle) : Autobiographie d'une hystérique possédée (Sister Jeanne of the Angels, Superior of the Ursulines of Loudun [17th century]: Autobiography of a Possessed Hysteric) (1886) by Gabriel Legué (1847-1913) and Georges Gilles de la Tourette (1857-1904).

Background Legué and Gilles de la Tourette edited and annotated the autobiographical manuscript written by the famous nun Jeanne des Anges (1602-1665). Charcot, their mentor, wrote a five-page preface for this book.

Design/Methods The original edition of this preface was used (Paris: G. Charpentier et Cie, 1886). This translation was made by two of the authors (GDG and CRN).

Results Charcot initially emphasized the interest that this book would unleash in different disciplines (ie, history, psychology and medicine). He then highlighted the special relevance of this historical document, which mainly resides in its autobiographical character. He also pointed out the abundance of details in the manuscript. He later described la passion hystérique, that is, the clinical manifestations of hysteria, including pseudocyesis. Afterwards, he briefly defended the nosological constancy of hysteria over time and compared this autobiographical book with those brilliantly written by Saint Teresa of Ávila (1515-1582). He did not elaborate on the authors' biography or bibliography since, according to Charcot, both were by then widely known. He mentioned, nevertheless, two books by the authors that are especially relevant for the current topic: Urbain Grandier et les possédées de Loudun (1880) by Legué and Théophraste Renaudot : d'après des documents inédits (1884) by Gilles de la Tourette.

Conclusions In his preface, Charcot recognized the importance of this book and reaffirmed his ideas about hysteria.

Authors/Disclosures
PRESENTER	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
Teresa V. Corona Vazquez, MD (National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery Mexico)	Dr. Corona Vazquez has received research support from Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia.
Bruno E. Vidal, MD (Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición)	No disclosure on file

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