The Discovery Of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

Many people believe Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a new disease, but reports were published about this disease in British medical literature since the early 1830s. The next account describing ALS was written in 1853 by Cruveilhier, who observed a circus owner with ALS symptoms. However, the most detailed description of ALS was written between 1869 to 1874, and credited to Dr. Jean Charcot. Charcot is known as one of the pioneers of neurology. One of his maids had ALS, and Charcot was able to make observations, and write notes on the clinical findings of this disease.