De la schizographie dans les écrits de Joseph Lévy-Valensi

Abstract

In between both wars, Joseph Lévy-Valensi (1879–1943) published numerous texts on the history of medicine and/or on mental pathologies that he signed or co-signed with younger collaborators. One of his early works, his Précis de psychiatrie, had two editions in 1926 and in 1939 during his lifetime. Later works were also published with P. Migault and J. Lacan in the Annales Médico-Psychologiques in 1931 on a specific language disorder that they named “Schizography”. Lévi-Valensi mentioned it in his second edition of his Précis. In it he described other novelties since the first edition. He also refers to J. Lacan's thesis in 1931 De la psychose paranoïaque dans ses rapports avec la personnalité, and links this texts to surrealists writings. When he reprints much later his thesis (1973), J. Lacan will add the articles that were published in the Annales co-signed with this professor. Lévi-Valensi was chosen in 1942 by the faculty council to occupy the position of professor at the clinic of mental illnesses. Unfortunately, the Vichy laws at the time prohibited the teachings of Jews. Refuged in Nice, he was caught in 1943 by the German army in a roundup and deported on the 20th of November to Auschwitz’ concentration camp. He died there three days later. The third edition of his Précis was published in 1948 posthumously but identical to the 1939’ edition.