I seem to be starting each month with something about eponyms. At least this time it gets a new number. That is because it is quite different from what has gone before when it comes to eponyms and to anything else for that matter.
Poupart’s ligament is not the only eponymous use of the name. Upon reading Richard Gordon’s Doctor in Love (1957) recently, I found this amusing story.
During a viva voce examination, Gordon is asked
“You are familiar with Poupart’s ligament?” asked the Professor, as we got on to hernias.
Of course, sir.”
“Ah! But where is Poupart’s junction?”
For a second I felt panic. This was an anatomical feature I’d never heard of.
“It’s the next station to Clapham Junction,” [the professor] said with a chuckle.
This geographical detail is indeed true—see the map below. However, I cannot vouch for the veracity of the rest of Doctor in Love (including whether this viva voce examination ever did take place).
FYI Poupart’s Junction is not named after the Poupart discussed in a previous post. It is named instead after the market gardener Samuel Poupart (b. 1807), who once owned a farm on land that is now part of the nearby Shaftesbury Park Estate. In particular, see the section on its history. (And if you really want to know more go here.)
[Source - https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1d/Clapham_Junction%2C_Stewarts_Lane%2C_Lavender_Hill_%26_Longhedge_RJD_17.jpg ]
‘POUPART’S JN.’ is written at an oblique angle, immediately to the left of the ‘LONGHEDGE’ that appears towards the middle of the map.
