Duchenne De Boulogne Biography
Duchenne De Boulogne (1806 - 1875) was a French neurologist who revived Galvani's research and greatly advanced the science of electrophysiology. The era of modern neurology developed from Duchenne's understanding of neural pathways and his diagnostic innovations including deep tissue biopsy, nerve conduction tests (NCS), and clinical photography. This extraordinary range of activities was achieved against the backdrop of a troubled personal life and a generally indifferent medical and scientific environment. Neurology did not exist in France before Duchenne, and although many medical historians consider Jean-Martin Charcot to be the father of the discipline, Charcot owed much to Duchenne, often acknowledging him as "my master in neurology". His major contributions were made in the myopathies that have immortalized his name, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Duchenne-Aran spinal muscular atrophy, Duchenne-Erb palsy, Duchenne disease (Tabes dorsalis), and paralysis Duchenne (progressive bulbar paralysis). He was the first clinician to practice muscle biopsy, with an invention he called "l'emporte-pièce" (the Duchenne trocar). In 1855 he formalized the diagnostic principles of electrophysiology and introduced electrotherapy in a textbook entitled De l'electrisation localisée et de son application à la physiologie, à la pathologie et à la thérapeutique. A complementary atlas to this work, the Album de photographies pathologiques, was the first neurology text illustrated by photographs. Duchenne's monograph, the Mécanisme de la physionomie humaine, also prominently illustrated by his photographs, was the first study of the physiology of emotions and was highly influential on Darwin's work on human evolution and emotional expression.
