Curious bypaths of history : being medico-historical studies and observations / by Dr. Cabanès ; frontispiece by D. Vierge, engraved on copper by F. Massé.

  • Augustin Cabanès
Date:
1898
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Curious bypaths of history : being medico-historical studies and observations / by Dr. Cabanès ; frontispiece by D. Vierge, engraved on copper by F. Massé. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    21/406 page 13
    The London medical jiapers, although copies were sent them for review, took absolutely no notice of the hook. It was reserved for a far-away American medical journal — “ Medicine ” (Detroit, Mich. U. S. A.) to gauge the exact aim and object of the work. In their issue of September (1897) they thus delivei-ed themselves: — Pathology in history is always of interest, especially since by affecting the leaders or rulers of a nation it tends to affect the nation as a whole. This volmne contains thirteen separate essays on subjects involved in historical pathology. The first one relates to a youthful indiscretion of Louis XIV whereby, as Dr. Cabanos proves, Louis XIV very early contracted gonorrhrea. While it was recognised by his courtly physicians, they concealed the origin of the disorder I'rotn interested motives, althongh describing its clinical features very clearly. The second discusses the fistula of the same king, and mentions all the sui’gical procedures adopted, as well as the fees paid to surgeons. The dise.ase became fashionable among the courtiers, and one lady of honor w’as disconsolate because her physician was unable to discover that she had any trace of the royal disorder. The phymosis from which Louis XVI suffered played a large part in determining certain features of the French Eevolution. For a while it rendered Louis XVI impotent and this fomented intrigues by the future Louis XVIII, Charles X and the Duke of Orleans, which seriously damaged the moral character of Marie Antoinette. These intrigues undoubtedly aided the general Revolutionai’y movement, since all three of the intriguants hoped to profit by this movement. Another item of special interest to physicians is the proof given that Marat suffered from both mental, dermic, and other somatic symptoms of diabetes, which doubtless underlay his suspicions and pitiless tendencies. The change recorded in Marat's attitude during the Revolution is readily explained by the tone given to his thoughts through the irritability produced by this disease. The work of which this is the first volume merits purchase and perusal by any physician of literary and historical tastes. The second volume will prove equally interesting, to judge from the table of subjects given in the present work. ” We have to apologize to the reader for having taken up his attention so long with matters less of public than personal interest. No one can have greater respect and admiration for English journalists than have we. No otlier country in the world can boast so large a percentage of talented and fair-minded men as
    digitised image 1
    digitised image 2
    digitised image 3