François Leuret
Encyclopedia
François Leuret was a French anatomist and psychiatrist
who was a native of Nancy.
He studied medicine under Jean-Étienne Dominique Esquirol
(1772–1840), and was later chief physician at the Bicêtre in Paris
. Two of his better known students were Paul Broca
(1824–1880) and Louis Pierre Gratiolet
(1815–1865). Leuret was also chief-editor of Annales d’hygiène publique et de médecine légale, an influential journal of hygiene
and forensic medicine.
Leuret is remembered for his work in comparative anatomy
of the brain
with Louis Gratiolet. The two men did extensive topographic mapping of the folds and fissures of the cerebral cortex
. Leuret coined the name fissure of Rolando after Italian anatomist Luigi Rolando
(1773–1831) for what is now known as the central sulcus
of the brain.
Leuret was an important figure in the early days of French psychiatry
. He stressed the importance of using a rational and humane approach in treatment of the mentally ill, and also believed that the criminally insane were sick individuals who were incapable of controlling their behavior. He felt that the origins of mental illness were unknown, and that it was wrong to define madness from only a somatic standpoint. Leuret's psychiatric theories put him at odds with other French physicians, particularly those who thought that the source of mental illness
could be localized to a specific part of the brain's anatomy. He was also scornful of the speculative theory of phrenology
.
Psychiatrist
A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. All psychiatrists are trained in diagnostic evaluation and in psychotherapy...
who was a native of Nancy.
He studied medicine under Jean-Étienne Dominique Esquirol
Jean-Étienne Dominique Esquirol
Jean-Étienne Dominique Esquirol was a French psychiatrist.Born and raised in Toulouse, Esquirol completed his education at Montpellier...
(1772–1840), and was later chief physician at the Bicêtre in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. Two of his better known students were Paul Broca
Paul Broca
Pierre Paul Broca was a French physician, surgeon, anatomist, and anthropologist. He was born in Sainte-Foy-la-Grande, Gironde. He is best known for his research on Broca's area, a region of the frontal lobe that has been named after him. Broca’s Area is responsible for articulated language...
(1824–1880) and Louis Pierre Gratiolet
Louis Pierre Gratiolet
Louis Pierre Gratiolet was a French anatomist and zoologist who was a native of Sainte-Foy-la-Grande, Gironde. He succeeded Isidore Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire as professor of zoology to the Faculty of Sciences at the University of Paris.Gratiolet is remembered for his work in neuroanatomy,...
(1815–1865). Leuret was also chief-editor of Annales d’hygiène publique et de médecine légale, an influential journal of hygiene
Hygiene
Hygiene refers to the set of practices perceived by a community to be associated with the preservation of health and healthy living. While in modern medical sciences there is a set of standards of hygiene recommended for different situations, what is considered hygienic or not can vary between...
and forensic medicine.
Leuret is remembered for his work in comparative anatomy
Comparative anatomy
Comparative anatomy is the study of similarities and differences in the anatomy of organisms. It is closely related to evolutionary biology and phylogeny .-Description:...
of the brain
Brain
The brain is the center of the nervous system in all vertebrate and most invertebrate animals—only a few primitive invertebrates such as sponges, jellyfish, sea squirts and starfishes do not have one. It is located in the head, usually close to primary sensory apparatus such as vision, hearing,...
with Louis Gratiolet. The two men did extensive topographic mapping of the folds and fissures of the cerebral cortex
Cerebral cortex
The cerebral cortex is a sheet of neural tissue that is outermost to the cerebrum of the mammalian brain. It plays a key role in memory, attention, perceptual awareness, thought, language, and consciousness. It is constituted of up to six horizontal layers, each of which has a different...
. Leuret coined the name fissure of Rolando after Italian anatomist Luigi Rolando
Luigi Rolando
Luigi Rolando was an Italian anatomist.As a University of Turin professor, he devoted his life in studying brain anatomy.The Substantia gelatinosa of Rolando and the fissure of Rolando are named for him.-External links:*...
(1773–1831) for what is now known as the central sulcus
Central sulcus
-External links:* via the Neuroscience Information Framework...
of the brain.
Leuret was an important figure in the early days of French psychiatry
Psychiatry
Psychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the study and treatment of mental disorders. These mental disorders include various affective, behavioural, cognitive and perceptual abnormalities...
. He stressed the importance of using a rational and humane approach in treatment of the mentally ill, and also believed that the criminally insane were sick individuals who were incapable of controlling their behavior. He felt that the origins of mental illness were unknown, and that it was wrong to define madness from only a somatic standpoint. Leuret's psychiatric theories put him at odds with other French physicians, particularly those who thought that the source of mental illness
Mental illness
A mental disorder or mental illness is a psychological or behavioral pattern generally associated with subjective distress or disability that occurs in an individual, and which is not a part of normal development or culture. Such a disorder may consist of a combination of affective, behavioural,...
could be localized to a specific part of the brain's anatomy. He was also scornful of the speculative theory of phrenology
Phrenology
Phrenology is a pseudoscience primarily focused on measurements of the human skull, based on the concept that the brain is the organ of the mind, and that certain brain areas have localized, specific functions or modules...
.
Selected writings
- Du traitement moral de la folie, 1840
- Anatomie comparée du système nerveux, considéré dans ses rapports avec l'intelligence (volume 1- 1839, the second volume published in 1857 by Gratiolet)