Jacques-Joseph Bonhomme (1708−1793): Forgotten French Neuroanatomist and Surgeon

Highlights

• Jacques-Joseph Bonhomme is a forgotten French neuroanatomist and surgeon.

• His descriptions of the brain in Traité de la Céphalotomie were among the most accurate of his day.

• Published in 1748 in Avignon (France), this book remained a valuable resource to anatomists and surgeons as it was highlighted in many publications.

• Bonhomme was one of the first surgeons to study brain details in the skull's natural position.

• Unfortunately, he did not have such a wide European reputation, probably because he lacked access to a chair of anatomy.

Although relatively little has been written of Jacques-Joseph Bonhomme's life (1708−1793) and contribution, his descriptions of the brain “Traité de la Céphalotomie” (Treatise on Dissection of the Head) were among the most accurate of his day. Published in 1748 in Avignon (France), this book remained a valuable resource to anatomists and surgeons as it was highlighted in many publications.

Bonhomme was one of the first surgeons to study brain details in the skull's natural position. The brain was cut perpendicularly along the median line with new techniques of dissection (by the bottom of the head and not by the top). He has also been known for the accuracy of his illustrations.

Bonhomme was appointed anatomic demonstrator at the Hospital and the University of Avignon, a prestigious position for a former “barber surgeon” at that time. His literary merits established him as a respected scholar of neuroanatomy during his lifetime. However, he did not have such a wide European reputation, probably because he had no access to a chair of anatomy.

Introduction

During the age of enlightenment in Europe (1715−1789), important figures greatly advanced knowledge of neuroanatomy and surgery, such as John Hunter (1728−1793),1, 2 Charles Bell (1774−1842),³ Giovanni Morgagni (1682−1771),⁴ Samuel Thomas von Sömmerring (1755−1830),⁵ Pierre Tarin (1735−1761),⁶ and Félix Vicq d’Azyr (1746−1794).⁷ Other neuroanatomists who were locally well known, namely the subject of this historical review (Jacques-Joseph Bonhomme), were unfortunately not internationally recognized. The latter is mainly ignored these days, even though his academic endeavors facilitated and improved our anatomic knowledge of the brain. The present paper reviews the life of Bonhomme and emphasizes his contributions to neuroanatomy.