As a medical intern in Debrecen during the 1960s and 70s, Pál Juhász professor, drew the neuroanatomical illustrations for the book „Foundations of Clinical Neurology”. I remained interested in these professional illustrative drawings, and as a neurosurgeon, I continued to consider brain localization and graphics important. During the COVID–19 quarantine, I compiled this compendium, aiming to revisit the structures and functions of the nervous system through concise texts and numerous illustrations. Most of the text was inspired by the brilliant university textbook Neurology by Imre Szirmai and his colleagues and co-authors. I incorporated much of the content from the digital version of the textbook available at Neurológia Digitális tankönyvtár (tamop 425, 2011_0001_524). The most expressive illustrations were selected, evaluated, and organized from Google.
Our chief, Emil Pásztor, full member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and professor at Semmelweis University (SOTE), emphasized the meaning of the word eidetic: referring to images that evoke extremely vivid and detailed visual recollections. Lajos Kassák (1887–1967) wrote, „For those who see, images may convey even more than spoken words”. It was our sincere belief, backed by a legion of arguments, that the line of our cultural development made a sudden turn from the auditory domain to the visual one.
My professional life had three visual phases. First, I memorized the neuroanatomy textbooks of the time, which lacked illustrations. In the second phase, I edited my surgical video and photo materials (see the Videotorium − Julow file on Google). More than 50,000 people viewed it. Through these surgical images – more powerful than words – a different world opened up to me. In the final phase, I summarized professional information using schematic images, either creating them myself or selecting and evaluating the work of others. According to Dr. Sára F. Orosz (DLA, Visual Communicator), „The vast majority of the human population – more than 85% – is visual. The more we explore the visual domain, the better”.
Ultimately, I want to pass this on to those who are just beginning in the field, or to those already more specialized in certain topics but not broadly knowledgeable in neurology. Amidst the rush of hospital routines – concussions, subdural hematomas, disc hernias–one can lose track of the finer details of neurology. Increasing workplace burdens, personal life issues, low average wages, the obsession with paid work, or the inability to retire from surgery due to age, disillusionment, burnout syndrome, or sadly, alcoholism – because of all these and despite them, I send these lines to others as well. Numerous typos, corrections, and errata were fixed by my colleagues Dr. János Hável, Dr. Jerne Barkaszi, and Dr. Zsófia Nagy. I ask for and extend my respectful thanks and friendship.
References: Emil Pásztor – Hungarian Science, 2003/2: Spatial Representation in Brain Diagnostics and Art. Hungarian Science, 2003/2.Dr. Sára F. Orosz, DLA – Visual Communication, AestheticsBalázs Gulyás – Roland, Per E. (1998): Visual Cortical Regions Involved in Stereovision. In: Balázs Gulyás – David Ottoson – Per E. Roland (eds.) Functional Organisation of the Human V, isual Cortex. Pergamon Press, Oxford. P. S.: From December 2021 to December 2023, I made ongoing edits to the book „Neurology of the Central Nervous System for Neurosurgeons… and Others”. Professor Tamás Révész from Queen Square, London, suggested changing the title from „neurology” to „functional anatomy”. I replaced numerous illustrations and improved the text (white matter, cerebral vessels and collaterals, cranial nerves, etc.). Unfortunately – or fortunately – a book can never truly be finished, only revised again and again. That’s what I’ve tried to do.
Budapest, January 11, 2024
Jenő Viktor Julow Dsc.
Retired Chief Neurosurgeon,
Doctor of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA), Dr. med. habil.
Department of Neurosurgery, Szent János Hospital