Vulpian

Vulpian, Alfred (Edme Felix Alfred Vulpian, 1826-87), famous French physiologist and neuropathologist. He began his work under the guidance of the famous physiologist Flourens at the physiological institute of the Paris University; from 1864 to 1867 he replaced his teacher as head of the institute; in 1867 he took the chair of pathological anatomy that had become vacant with the departure of Cruveilhier; from 1872 to 1887, for 15 years, he served as professor of experimental and comparative pathology. From 1862 to 1869, Vulpian headed a department at the Salpêtrière, working here in collaboration with Charcot. Vulpian's works relate to the fields of physiology, toxicology and pharmacology, experimental pathology, and clinical neurology. In 1864, Vulpian published his "Lectures on the General Physiology of the Nervous System," in 1875 - "Lectures on the Vasomotor Apparatus," in 1881 - "Lectures on the Physiological Action of Toxic and Medicinal Substances," in 1879 and then in 1887 - "Diseases of the Nervous System." In the field of physiology, Vulpian's works on the regeneration of peripheral nerves, on the results of suturing nerves of different physiological significance, on vasomotor and secretory nerve apparatuses, on experimental sections of the spinal cord, and on experimental embolisms of spinal arteries are well known. In the field of clinical neurology, Vulpian, together with Charcot, developed questions about "locomotor progressive ataxia," about the relationship of atrophy to lesions of the cells of the anterior horns of the spinal cord, about meningeal hemorrhages, about softening of the brain, and about secondary degenerations of the spinal cord. Among the works conducted by Vulpian without the participation of Charcot, mention should be made of his work on disseminated sclerosis, several works on toxic and infectious myelitis, a number of works on muscular atrophies developing after lesions of peripheral nerves.