Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All France Paris Doctor Charcot's Library
AO Edited

Doctor Charcot's Library

The personal library of the founder of modern neurology is open to visitors.

Paris, France

Added By
Adam Roberts
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Jean-Martin Charcot’s Library  
Jean-Martin Charcot’s Library  
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Jean-Martin Charcot was a pioneer in the field of neurology and an inspiration to the developing field of psychology. He worked at the Salpetrière hospital for 33 years in the 19th century where one of his students was Sigmund Freud. He was most famous for his work on hysteria and hypnosis and established a neurology clinic at the hospital where he ran his infamous 'leçons du mardi matin' which were mostly spectacular displays with hypnotised women.

Although his theories and conclusions were later rejected, at the time he believed that hysteria was a hereditary and progressive physical condition that could be induced through trauma. His techniques for inducing hysteria in female patients using hypnotism, magnetism, and electricity were both theatrical and disturbing, not to mention very popular - both within the medical community as well as with the general public.

His theories about hysteria were wrong, but he is widely credited with being the first to understand the potential for the use of hypnotism in medical diagnosis. He is also remembered for re-naming Tourette's syndrome after his student and fellow neurologist George Gilles de la Tourette who had originally called it "la maladie des tics."

The building where his clinics were held no longer survives, but his personal library was donated to the hospital by his son after his death. It sits rather awkwardly in a 1960s modernist structure and is surrounded by a micro-museum. Anybody can visit this library, and helpful staff will assist those with any questions. Be aware that it remains a working library and there may be medical students present looking for a quiet place to study.

Related Tags

Libraries Medical Libraries Museums And Collections Medical Museums Collections Repositories Of Knowledge

Know Before You Go

Hopital Salpetrière. Open from 2 pm - 6 pm

Community Contributors

Added By

InvisibleParis

Edited By

hrnick, Simpluree, Okr

  • hrnick
  • Simpluree
  • Okr

Published

April 12, 2010

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Doctor Charcot's Library
Boulevard Saint Marcel
Paris, 75013
France
48.830759, 2.359204
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Gobelins Tapestry Factory

Paris, France

miles away

Le Droit Humain Masonic Lodge

Paris, France

miles away

The Bears of Gobelins

Paris, France

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Paris

Paris

France

Places 204
Stories 41

Nearby Places

Gobelins Tapestry Factory

Paris, France

miles away

Le Droit Humain Masonic Lodge

Paris, France

miles away

The Bears of Gobelins

Paris, France

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Paris

Paris

France

Places 204
Stories 41

Related Places

  • Brooklyn, New York

    Morbid Anatomy Library & Giftshop

    A library and shop devoted to the body, mortality, and bringing to light forgotten or neglected histories

  • Cuypers Library

    Amsterdam, Netherlands

    Cuypers Library

    This gorgeous reading room houses the oldest and largest art history library in the Netherlands.

  • Paris, France

    Museum of the History of Medicine

    One of the oldest medical collections in Europe focusing on rare surgical instruments.

  • Leighton Library

    Dunblane, Scotland

    Leighton Library

    The oldest library in Scotland was built from the remains of a church to hold a churchman's library.

  • The Waring Historical Library. (Press Photo)

    Charleston, South Carolina

    The Waring Historical Library

    Dedicated to the history of the health sciences.

  • Fasinus tintinnabulum

    London, England

    Wellcome Collection & Library

    The curios of pharmacist and collector Henry Wellcome.

  • Chemical Heritage Foundation, street view.

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

    Science History Institute

    Instruments, apparatus, and rare books all relating to chemistry and its related sciences.

  • Museo de Anatomopatología

    Mexico City, Mexico

    Museo de Anatomopatología (Museum of Pathological Anatomy)

    Located in a veterinary school, this macabre exhibit displays the effects of animal diseases.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.