Joseph Grasset

Joseph Grasset (March 18, 1849 - July 1918), was a French neurologist who was born in Montpellier. He also received his medical degree (1873) and practiced medicine in Montpellier. He was involved in every aspect of internal medicine, but his primary interest concerned diseases of the nervous system.

His name is associated with the Grasset phenomenon, a condition where a patient with hemiparesis lying on his back can raise either leg separately, but is unable to raise both legs together. This phenomena is explained in his 1899 treatise, Diagnostic des maladies de la moëlle. He did extensive work in the field of psychiatry, publishing the book Demifous et Demiresponsables (Semi-Insane and the Semi-Responsible) in 1907. He also did research regarding the paranormal, publishing books with titles such as Le spiritisme devant la science (1904) and L’occultisme hier et ajourd’hui (1907).

Reference

 * Who Named It; Joseph Grasset