Gilles de la Tourette and His Syndrome by Serendipity
HAROLD STEVENS PH.D., M.D.1
1 Professor of Neurology, George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, D.C.
"Tic convulsif," a bizarre entity, was discovered fortuitously by Gilles de la Tourette. His achievements, however, extend well beyond this eponymic triumph into a broad diversity of fields including literature, social welfare, political reform, and forensic medicine. The recent revival of interest in his syndrome may be a prelude to greater recognition of this colorful figure and his many contributions.
