[Edouard Brissaud (1852-1909), Charcot's favorite pupil]

Edouard Brissaud's career and scientific work are deeply marked by the influence of professor Jean-Martin Charcot, Head of the Chair of clinics of nervous system diseases at the Salpêtrière. Brissaud was his "externe" in 1875 and his "interne" in 1879. In 1880, his medical thesis was presided over by Charcot, who also served as a jury member for his "agrégation" in 1886. Brissaud was the king pin and the cornerstone of the famous medical handbook (Traité de médecine), which was kindly supported by Charcot and Bouchard. In 1893, a few months before Charcot's death, Brissaud, encouraged by Charcot, founded the Revue neurologique with Pierre Marie. When, after Charcot's death, Brissaud, in charge of the interim of the Salpêtrière's Chair, paid a glowing tribute to him, in his first lecture. Charcot thought highly of Brissaud and was fond of him. Two unpublished letters from Charcot to Brissaud gave evidence of his attachment to him. In one of these letters, Charcot friendly discussed the medical handbook with Brissaud and left his son Jean-Baptiste Charcot, as an "interne", in the care of Brissaud. In the other letter, Charcot gave Brissaud an original observation of alcoholic paralysis and asked him what he thought of it. On the whole, as pertinently written by late professor Jean-Louis Signoret, "Edouard Brissaud was undoubtedly Charcot's favourite disciple".