In memoriam of Professor J. J. Grancher, of Paris, France, 1843-1907.

  • Sigard Adolphus Knopf
Date:
1907
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: In memoriam of Professor J. J. Grancher, of Paris, France, 1843-1907. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    himself to live just carefully enough to be able to do his great work as a scientist, teacher, physician, and humanitarian. If he suffered no one but himself knew, he never complained. His placid countenance never betrayed emotion, psychical or physical suffering. Professor Grancher was a man difficult to ap¬ proach ; he seemed cold, almost unsympathetic.^ Tall of stature, pale, emaciated, bald, and of ascetic ap¬ pearance, he was a man of few words. He made a particularly impressive appearance when wearing the red silk robe and cap, the insignia of his grade as professor, at examination times. It was my privilege to have had Professor Grancher as presiding judge of those before whom I was called to defend my thesis for the final de¬ gree. This was more than twelve years ago, but I vividly recall some very anxious moments of that day. Professor Grancher was the last of the four judges to'speak and to pass on the merit of my the¬ sis. He began by severely criticising the shortcom¬ ings of my work which made me feel fearful of the outcome of the ordeal. All of a sudden his manner changed, perhaps he had seen some redeeming fea¬ tures in my essay after all. At any rate, with a kind¬ ness and gentleness I had never expected to find in this man with a face of a Spanish monk of inquisi¬ tion times (as Professor Letulle describes him in his eulogy), the august president congratulated me on my humble efforts in behalf of modern phthisio- therapy and welcomed me into the ranks of those endeavoring to fight the great white plague. In giv¬ ing me my rating for the final degree, he proved a just, kind, and lenient judge. I have since had occasion to see more of the man Grancher, I have learned of his many kind deeds done in secret and his deep humanitarian interests in the antituberculosis crusade. Of this interest his and Madame Grancher’s UCEuvre de preservation de