The History of Kazan Neurological School

Abstract

The historical prerequisites for the foundation and teaching of neurology at Kazan University are described; the relationship between the history of Kazan Imperial University Kazan medical university and neurology school is shown. Brief biographies of outstanding representatives of Kazan Neuroscience (D.P. Skalozubov, V.M. Bekhterev, L.O. Darkshevich, N.O. Kovalevsky, N.A. Mislavsky, A.V. Kibyakov, A.S. Dogel, A.V. Favorsky, L.I. Omorokov, and Y.Y. Popelyansky) are presented. The description of scientific interests of the Kazan neurological school and its specific features related to the one century period since 1885 are described.

Encephalitis Lethargica in the Soviet Union

“…L.O. Darkshevich became head of the Neurology Clinic in Kazan in 1892 and in 1917 moved to Moscow; he was a medical consultant to Lenin [34]. In 1922, Darkshevich [35 ]published an article on EL in Moscow.…”

Jean-Martin Charcot at the Birth of Russian Neurology

“…After defending his thesis ‘The conduction of light stimulus from the retina to the oculomotor nucleus’ under Kozhevnikov in Moscow, he took a postgraduate course in Vienna, Leipzig, Berlin and Paris from 1883 to 1887. At Salpêtrière he collaborated with Joseph Jules Dejerine (1839–1917) and co-authored a paper on muscle disorders in tabes dorsalis [14]. Amazingly, the insight into Darkshevich’s stay in Paris can be gained from none other than Sigmund Freud (1856–1939).…”

Life and death of Vladimir Mikhailovich Bekhterev

“…In pyramidal hemiplegia, when the foot is released after being passively flexed plantarwards occurs dorsiflexion of the foot, and knee and hip flexion [4] Hypogastric reflex observed in tertiary neurosyphilis: normal contraction of the lower abdominal wall muscles when the peroneal nerve is compressed [5] Absence of pain when the peroneal nerve is compressed, in tertiary neurosyphilis [6] Nasal Reflex: contraction of the ipsilateral facial muscles to nasal stimulation (tickle) -normal phenomenon [7] Severe sciatica: the healthy leg can't extend more than the compromised one In conclusion, Bekhterev was an intellectually gifted person, originating a wide range of contributions with ample repercussion in the dominion of the neurosciences. Revered as an encyclopedic scientist, received the admirative quotation attributed to the eminent German anatomist Friedrich Kopsch 2,3,5 : "Only two know the mystery of brain structure and organization: God and Bekhterev". The chronicle about Bekhterev's death, despite some narrative variations, recounted that the neurologist, before the beginning of the Congress, by official request of the Kremlin Medical Department, examined Joseph Stalin.…”

“…There, he reorganized the Chair, and founded a Psychophysiological Laboratory, the first in Russia, in 1885, with special equipments and trained collaborators to study morphology and physiology of the nervous system 6 . As one of the results of his research, he proposed a division of the brain in zones, each with a specific function, being one of the first to reveal the role of the hippocampus in memory function 1,2,3 . Further, aware that nervous and mental disorders usually occur in conjunction, he believed that there was no definite distinction between them, a trend towards neuropsychiatry 4,5 .…”

“…Completing the gymnasium he was accepted into the St. Petersburg's Military Medical Academy 4 , graduating at age 21. He got his habilitation with the Doctor thesis, presented in 1881, "The experience of clinical investigation of the body temperature in some forms of mental diseases" 1,2,3 . Bekhterev was a modest and undemanding man that disliked social life.…”