Emile-Antoine Blanche is described as the preeminent psychiatrist of his day. The handwritten letter below was discovered in the Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library at Duke University (by me). My goal has been to gather letters or manuscripts that pre-date Auguste Deter's arrival at the Frankfurt Asylum where she was posthumously assigned the eponymous diagnosis--Alzheimer's Disease. The video below (in french) is an interesting find as Frederic Mitterrand, nephew of former President of France, Francois Mitterand, is commenting about Antoine Emile-Blanche's son, Jacques-Emile Blanche a famous painter. You never know what you discover when you roll up your sleeves and start to follow the thread. One useful habit I have learned--always look at the citations and sources of the documents. It leads you to many a useful insight that would be missed without tugging on the thread...
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Frederic Mitterrand, nephew of former President of France--apologies as it is in french--time to break out that high school french!
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Jacques-Emile Blanche was born in Paris on 1st February 1861 the son of Dr Emile-Antoine Blanche, perhaps the most famous psychiatrist of his day. His father often treated important figures from the artistic community of Paris, both artists and writers, and many became regular visitors to their house encouraging the young Jacques-Emile in his endeavours to paint. |
A typed version...
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Translation by my kind and generous friend Jane Neff Rollins
In Paris Auteuil, 15 Rue de Fontis
21 August 1882 My dear colleague, I just had a conversation with Madame Serac, from which it appears that last year her husband had a very profound mental episode with hallucinations and sensory delusions during the 6 weeks before his admission to Ville Evrard [JNR - the name of the asylum?]. Madame Sera also told me that during the visit that she made, his speech was so grossly [or glaringly] insane, her husband held her, which betokens in her eyes, the persistence of his delirious ideas [we would say disordered mentation today], because, in spite of his outbursts of temper and his episodes of anger, he never reproached her, and gave her credit for her morality and good behavior. I suggested that Madame Serac should chat with you, and I think that it would be useful that she should see her husband in your presence at your office and that of Mr. the Dr Rey [French term of respect for a physician]. As for me, I told Madame Serac that if the patient responded to her questions like he responded yesterday, the prohibition [in this context, his being certified or declared insane] will certainly not be pronounced [in this context, prolonged?], in consequence, it seems to me appropriate to delay judgment. Madam Serac is completely prepared to take her husband back home, if one can affirm that he is cured; I told her that I can’t give that affirmation and that besides it would not happen that quickly. I engaged her to ask you for a [health status] certificate in which one could certify a certain improvement, but for the moment, whether he can leave the asylum is still in doubt. Madame Serac will furnish you with very interesting particulars/information that it would be good to record in written form. If Mr. Rey comes to Paris tomorrow (Tuesday) he would encounter me at the Academie at 3:30 pm. I will await a word from Rey. My compliments to Mr. the Doctor Rey. Your totally devoted [servant is implied; standard business letter closure at the time], A. E. Blanche |
Alzheimer's Disease the Brand has launched a facebook page!
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