Broca, Paul, physician and anatomist (1824-1880). Autograph letter signed.

Paris, [1872].

8vo. 2 pp. On headed stationery of the École des Hautes Études, Laboratoire d'Anthropologie.

 850,00

A "personal letter" in which Broca states the ongoing debate among the members of the "Association française pour l'avancement des sciences" (AFAS), founded in 1872, about which city - Lyon, Lille, or Bordeaux - might be the most suitable location to host the Association's first conference. The letter also provides insights into the municipalities' reactions. Bordeaux, apparently favoured by Broca, is objected to by the physiologist Claude Bernard, who prefers Lyon, but the reaction from Lyon appears to have been unenthusiastic due to financial constraints: "Bordeaux a passé à l'avancement, mais non sans quelques objections de Claude Bernard qui tenais pour Lyon. Les Lyonnais ne nous avaient fais d'abord qu'un accueil trop froid pour cette année à cause de leur compte Médical pour lequel ils avaient des inquiétudes [...]".

Paul Broca is best known for his research on "Broca's area", a region of the frontal lobe that is named after him. His work revealed that the brains of patients suffering from aphasia contained lesions in a particular part of the cortex, in the left frontal region. This was the first anatomical proof of localization of brain function. Broca's work also contributed to the development of physical anthropology, advancing the science of anthropometry.

Light brownstaining.

Art.-Nr.: BN#56080 Schlagwörter: ,