The Duels of Pierre Marie and Jules Dejerine

Abstract

In no country has the duel prevailed to such a great extent as in France where the matter of dueling and affairs of honor were of frequent occurrence until the 20th century. The term duel has since been established for any contest between 2 persons or parties, be they sporting, intellectual, political, or in other matters. Despite their worldwide recognition and great scientific production, Pierre Marie and Jules Dejerine became rivals at the end of the 19th century. While Marie defended Charcot’s neurological school at Salpêtrière Hospital, Dejerine had his own neurology school to contend. The fierce antagonism between them materialized to the verge of a real death duel in 1892 and later to an intellectual duel in the famous debate about aphasias, held in Paris in 1908.