The Wallis in Research – Antoine Pitteloud

Description

The 'Crétins' of Wallis – from the perspective and pen of scientists, travelers, and writers who visited the canton in the 18th and 19th centuries. The scientists, whose trailblazer was Horace Benedict de Saussure, tried in vain to understand the causes of this disease, which – contrary to the claim of Diderot and d'Alembert's Encyclopédie – was not a peculiarity of Wallis, but was widespread in the Alpine regions. Travelers and tourists of that time, however, expressed their astonishment, even their disgust, towards these miserable victims of severe iodine deficiency. Sensitive souls like Rodolphe Töpffer, Gustave Flaubert, Ernest Coeurderoy, Elisée Reclus, Marguerite Burnat-Provins, and Maurice Chappaz, however, regarded them with affection and compassion as brothers, as innocents who had forgotten nature a little too much, as angelic beings, as Christians, since the word 'Kretin' originates from there. Note: This text was translated by software for machine translation and not by a human translator. It may contain translation errors.

Highlights

• Lecture about the 'Crétins' from Wallis
• Historical perspectives from scientists and writers
• Venue: Médiathèque Valais - Sion

General Information

The event sheds light on the perception of the 'Crétins' in Wallis in the 18th and 19th centuries. Scientists and travelers describe their experiences and views on this disease, which was widespread in the Alpine regions.

Location

Rue de Lausanne 45, 1950 Sitten, Switzerland

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