CORVISART, HIS LIFE AND WORKS* By B. BARKER BEESON, M.D.

CHICAGO, ILL. 1 0 EAN NICOLAS CORVISART JHis lather became very angry at this was born February 15, 1775, in/ decision and literally kicked him out the tiny village of Dricourt, of the paternal home. Without means not far from Vouziers, then a or influence Corvisart sought refuge part of the Champagne but nowin Hotcl-Dieu, the oldest hospital of includedJ in the Ardennes Department. Paris, where in return for acting as One writer has added the suffix des an ordinary nurse he was given board, Marets to his name. At any rate lodging and most important of all, the family was an old one and could an opportunity to study medicine. By be traced back to 870 a .d . It was his vigilance, zeal and gaiety he soon ennobled in 1669, in the person of became a favorite with both the Philip de Corvisart, Lord of Fleury. physicians and the patients. Antoine Owing to strife between the magis- Petit, Louis, Bucquet, Vicq-d’Azyr, trates and the French clergy, Parlia- Desault, Desbois de Rochefort and ment had been exiled from Paris. Portal were among his teachers. Corvi- So the elder Corvisart left with his sart frequently prepared the material fellows and settled temporarily in for their demonstrations. While doing Dricourt, returning to Paris soon after so, on one occasion he suffered a slight the birth of his son. The father was wound of a finger. Infection set in possessed of considerable means most and only the skillful and devoted of which was wasted on inferior care of Desault saved him. paintings. For reasons of economy Although the youngest in his class the subject of this sketch was sent Corvisart stood first. His inaugural early to live with an uncle, the parish thesis (1782) was entitled, “Is pleth- priest at Vimille, a village adjacent ora sufficient to produce the menstrual to Bou'Iogne-sur-Mer. When thirteen evacuation?.” Three years later the years old he entered the College degree of Doctor-regent was conferred of Saint-Barbe where he proved to upon him by the Paris Faculty of be a lazy, mischievous and quarrel- Medicine and as was the custom he some pupil, showing no signs of future delivered a discourse. It dealt with greatness. Instead he devoted him- the pleasures of medical study and the self to outdoor sports. Originally in- disappointments of medical practice. tended for the bar he spent some time, Bourdois de Lamotte says that the most reluctantly, in the study of law. degree of Doctor-regent was obtained Helme tells of Corvisart’s visits to only after four years of study plus several medical clinics in Paris and of two additional years devoted largely the profound impression made upon to rigorous examinations. What was him by the eloquence of Antoine expected of the candidate was out Petit. He at once cast aside Justinian of all proportion to what he had been and his Codes and decided to enroll taught, so a great deal of self-educa- under the banner of Aesculapius. tion was essential. The new Doctor- *Read at a Joint Meeting of the Society of Medical History of Chicago and the Institute of Medicine, January 25, 1929. regent, in accordance with usage, ous of a hospital connection but tendered a banquet to his teachers and refused a place in the new Necker fellows. When the festivities were well Hospital when Madame Necker in-

under way Corvisart, according to sisted that he don a wig. He had Helme, could no longer converse save meanwhile contracted close friend- in Latin. Glass in hand and to the ships with Desbois de Rochefort and astonishment of all he suddenly burst Desault as well as with Father Poten- into the adjoining room where the tian, the Superior of the Charite professors were dining, hiccoughing Hospital. On the death of Desbois Horace, belching forth Juvenal, and in 1788, Corvisart was designated abruptly ending the banquet. to succeed him as physician to that Corvisart later became adjunct to hospital. From then on his reputation the chair of anatomy and took part grew steadily so that when the medical in the courses on operative surgery, school was created in 1795, he was obstetrics and physiology. He was unanimously chosen to occupy the also appointed physician to the poor chair of medicine. Two years later of the parish of Saint-Sulpice. In Corvisart was made Professor of the midst of this busy and useful Medicine at the College de France. career he was frequently obliged to In 1799 Barthez and he were made borrow money. His chief aim, even physicians to the Government. Later when distressed, was to live in order Corvisart was personal physician to to learn and to perfect himself by Bonaparte as First Consul and with experience. Corvisart was very desir- the advent of the First Empire he became chief physician to the Em- between Corvisart and Boyer, the peror, the Empress and the Court. surgeon, in the case of a patient with Corvisart was a member of the a gastric complaint, “It is a catarrh,” Academy of Sciences (1811) and of said Boyer. “No! it is a cancer,” re- the Academy of Medicine (1820). plied Corvisart, “Observe that leaden Napoleon created him a Baron of color and emaciation.” On another the Empire as well as an Officer of occasion along with Dubois, also a the Legion of Honor and a Com- surgeon and famous as the accoucheur mander of the Order of the Reunion. who delivered the King of Rome, Owing to the demands of the court Corvisart was examining the bladder and government, Corvisart resigned of an old senator who was stone deaf; his teaching positions in 1805 and so they spoke freely. “There is a was made professor emeritus. The calculus,” exclaimed Dubois, “like customary pension was, at his request, a small nut, round and solitary.” set aside for the founding of a prize “Fine,” said Corvisart, “and how open to competition among the medi- can you consider this insignificant cal students. The prize was won, in stone as the sole cause of what we see: 1848, by Corvisart’s nephew, Lucien this loss of weight this rapid weaken- Corvisart who afterwards became ing of all the organs. Look further, physician to Napoleon in and as- you ought to find a fungous growth or sisted at the birth of the son of the an ulcer which could cause all of these latter’s wife, the ill-fated Prince symptoms and the calculus as well.” Imperial. Agreeing with this Dubois explored Lassus has emphasized Corvisart’s still more with a sound. Suddenly he critical sense, independence, powers stopped and exclaimed, “You are of observation and scepticism. He right! I find a soft fleshy growth chose his teachers particularly for which is your fungus.” their ability to impart information Upon seeing a certain portrait Corvi- to others, being especially attached sart exclaimed, “If the painter was to Desault, A. Petit, Desbois de exact the original of this portrait Rochefort and Bichat. Desbois is died of heart disease.” “And,” adds credited with doing much to make an Pariset, “he was correct.” Observa- observer of Corvisart for he held tion was termed by him the chief informal talks with his pupils in support of clinical medicine. Lassus which diagnosis and treatment were refers to Corvisart as the physician thoroughly discussed. Along with a physiognomist par excellence. On en- penchant for criticism Corvisart was tering a room and at a distance of endowed with common sense and several meters he often recognized the therefore his diagnoses which at times disorder present. His scepticism was seemed almost to be miraculous, shown by one of his favorite sayings, were really due in a large measure to ‘‘ That which we know is but little com- this combination. He was probably pared to that which we must learn.” the first to carry out and insist on Corvisart was scrupulously honest routine physical examinations, thus and never gossiped. Generous with paving the way for what is now the poor, he insisted on adequate fees customary. from the wealthy class. Even at the The story is told of a consultation zenith of his career he was often morose, melancholy and preoccupied. he excited the admiration of his He was courteous to physicians save pupils when practicing percussion at to some of the older ones whom he the bedside. termed Gothic and superannuated. Corvisart became greatly interested Marital difficulties and the death of an in percussion after reading a book on only son are said to have accounted it by the Viennese physician, Auen- for his attitude toward life in general. briigger (1760). He translated this Corvisart’s service at the Charite work into French in 1808. When it was a famous center of clinical teach- was suggested that he write his own ing during his ten years there. Those book on percussion Corvisart replied, who followed him through the wards “By doing that I would sacrifice in the forenoon, could go later to Auenbriigger to my own vanity, a the College de France and hear the thing I shall not do, for I wish to same cases discussed from the purely revive his splendid discovery.” theoretical standpoint. His genius in Corvisart realized the importance organization and imperious authority of percussion and emphasized it not resulted in a smoothly working organ- only in his practice but also in clinics ization with an almost military dis- and lectures. cipline. Dr. Reveille-Parise, then a In 1797 he translated from Latin medical student, attracted the atten- into French Max Stoll’s “Aph- tion of Corvisart one day at the orisms on the Knowledge and Cure Charite. The professor brusquely de- of the Fevers.” Stoll was apparently manded what he had come for, to his medical idol and was continually which the young man timidly replied quoted by Corvisart. Stoll also a that he came to study. “To study!” Viennese clinician, had only a twelve- said Corvisart with a smile, “That is bed service but was a good observer, good, my friend. Here,” pointing to combining common sense with a thor- the patients, “are the books which ough knowledge of medicine as then you need; but they are more difficult taught. His armamentarium com- to read than the printed ones.” prised certain infusions for the renal Much of his success was due to filter plus camphor, serpentaria and thoroughness of examination. Upon mild purgatives. seeing a patient Corvisart first se- In 1802 Corvisart translated the cured a complete history, followed Aphorisms of the renowned Boerhaave. by a general inspection, including an His own work, entitled “Essai observation of the tongue, an examin- sur les maladies du coeur ct des gros ation of the pulse which he considered vaisseaux,” appeared in 1806. A highly important, followed by percus- second edition followed in five years. sion plus methodical palpation. As Dr. C. H. Horeau collaborated in has been stated by Bourdois de both of these editions. The third and La-Motte, Corvisart proved the super- last edition (1818) was got out by iority of the method of diagnosis by Corvisart alone. He also edited the reasoning founded on facts over that “Materia Medica” of Desbois de based on theories which existed largely Rochefort in 1789. Corvisart founded in the imaginations of their authors. the Journal of Medicine, Surgery and Endowed by Nature with a remark- Pharmacy, which went through forty ably acute hearing and sense of touch, volumes. There has been much speculation sart’s clinics from the time of his as to who had the most to do with arrival in Paris in April, 1801. moulding Corvisart from the medical Corvisart has been criticized by standpoint. Helme believes that Stoll some for a lack of faith in drugs. largely influenced Corvisart, Bocr- It is true that he often relied haave to a lesser extent. Desbois and upon common sense plus hygi- Desault more so; but above all, enic measures; but when powerful Bichat. Bichat taught him the im- remedies were indicated he did not portance of autopsies in which respect hesitate to employ them, as in the he surpassed Stoll. case of the Duchess d’Abrantes whom It would appear, strictly speaking, he cured of a serious gastrointestinal that cardiology as such did not exist complaint by the use of opium. prior to Corvisart. He really created Aside from the practice of medicine cardiac symptomatology and made Corvisart was a most entertaining possible the differentiation between companion when with his cronies and cardiac and pulmonary disorders. The he delighted in gathering about him distinction between functional and not only physicians but also writers organic heart disease is also credited and artists. Robert Surcouf, a famous to him. Lassus is of the opinion that French corsair, who became a Baron Corvisart’s most important contribu- of the Empire, was among his inti- tions to cardiology were: (i) the dis- mates. Both of them were connoisseurs tinction between cardiac hypertrophy as to food and wine along with the and dilatation, (2) the division of the celebrated Brillat-Savarin who wrote clinical course of heart failure into on the physiology of taste and who three periods and (3) the connection formed part of their circle. Baron between cause and effect in valvular Alibert, the dermatologist, was also lesions and heart failure. Corvisart a close friend of Corvisart; in fact, to is credited with being the first to him was always entrusted the carving explain heart failure mechanically. of the fowl or game at their dinners. In his textbook he emphasized the At one of these affairs Pinard, a frequency of organic heart disease, member of the French Academy, as well as the necessity for a cardiac asked Alibert if it were true that one symptomatology founded essentially could dig a grave with his teeth. on percussion. A dilated heart was “Professional jealousy,” replied Ali- termed by him a cardiac aneurism. bert. “That is a rumor noised about He is said to have been the first to by the pick and the spade.” On describe the dyspnea of effort and another occasion Corvisart was re- also the thrill perceived by the hand proached for not acting quickly in a over the heart in mitral stenosis. certain case, the patient even calling By minute observation of the living, him Doctor Corbillard, which means and deadhouse examinations, he was hearse in French. He smilingly re- the founder of anatomo-clinical cardi- plied by saying, “Ingrate! Where ology. His diagnoses were being con- would you be if 1 had not stepped stantly corroborated in this manner. in?” By emphasizing percussion he paved The favorite authors of Corvisart the way for his pupil Laennec who were Voltaire and Moliere and they himself tells of having followed Corvi- influenced him very much. He was subject to ennui and was quoted as yet,” was the reply, “but I shall saying that to be a good physician one publish one shortly.” “Do it quickly,” ought to be not more than forty since said the General, “and we shall audacity was essential; at sixty one was discuss it together.” Perhaps this good for nothing. Corvisart retired conversation had something to do from practice upon reaching the latter with directing Corvisart towards car- age since he feared apoplexy. Bourdon diology. The Revolution with its tells of a visit to his luxurious home in bloodshed and terror undoubtedly rue Saint Dominque with its splendid produced much cardiac disorder which library and statuary. may have also influenced his choice of Cabanes states that Corvisart wrote a specialty. comparatively little. He was fond of Madame Lannes, afterwards Duch- dreaming and reflecting, a trait com- ess of Montebello, is credited with mon to such melancholic individuals. recommending Corvisart to Josephine. Dupuytren believed that Corvisart According to others Corvisart was was always moody at heart. He was presented to Bonaparte, then First grave and reserved in the presence of Consul, by Barras whom he had strangers. met through Lecouteulx de Canteleu, On December 6, 1808, the day one of his first patients. A few days of Saint-Nicolas, the leading artists, later, as the story goes, Corvisart was actors and actresses of France gave summoned to the Tuileries to examine a fete in Corvisart’s honor. Isabey the man of the hour. August 16, 1803 painted twelve tableaux representing has been given as the date on which episodes in his life, one showing him Napoleon was first treated by Corvis- at the age of thirty years receiving art. Being taken suddenly with a the twelve sous (about fifty cents) cough and pain in the chest along alloted him weekly by his father. with bloody expectoration while in Artists from the Opera sang the Brussels he had Corvisart sent for post- following, improvised for the occasion haste. Upon arriving Corvisart at once by Picard: diagnosed the condition as pulmonary Gloire au Docteur’ quand la fievre nous presse, congestion but did not tell the patient Par son talent il nous rend la sante; this. A vesicant soon relieved the First Gloire a I’ami! Des que notre mal cesse, Consul and also resulted in Corvisart’s Par son esprit il nous rend la gaite. being made his personal physician. No sketch of Corvisart would be Napoleon in speaking of this incident complete unless mention were made said, “I could see that he understood of his relations with the great Corsi- my system and that he was the physi- can. Barbillon claims that the famous cian for me. I attached him to my general and the celebrated physician person and heaped honors upon him.” first met during a reception given by Bourienne, Napoleon’s secretary, has Barras. Josephine presented Corvi- been credited with recommending sart to Bonaparte asking at the Corvisart, who had cured one of the same time, “To what disease will the Consul’s brothers of an annoying General be the most exposed?” “To ailment. Before seeing Corvisart, the heart disease,” replied Corvisart. illustrious patient, successively called “Have you written a book on that in Sue, Pinel and Portal. None of them subject?” asked Bonaparte. “Not impressed him as did Corvisart who by his promptness, penetration and francs.” “Good for you,” said Napol- precision had a profound effect on eon, “you are indeed humane.” him. With Corvisart the Emperor In March 1798, Bonaparte gave banished all formality, speaking freely Corvisart a large carved mahogany and often pinching or rubbing his chair which the latter placed in the ears, a trick of his with those of whom consultation-room of his residence in he was fond. It must not be imagined the rue de la Victoire. This chair still that Corvisart’s position was a sine- belongs to the Corvisart family. Thus cure. Both as a mathematician as we know that these two were ac- well as a disciple of Jean Jacques quainted even before Bonaparte be- Rousseau, Napoleon was inclined to came First Consul. mistrust medical art, claiming that it The decree naming him as First was too conjectural. With his slow Physician did not appear until 1804. pulse (doubted by some), slight con- By reason of this appointment Corvi- vulsive seizures perhaps akin to the sart received 30,000 francs yearly, Stokes-Adams syndrome and cho- plus 4500 francs for office upkeep. Iemic tint, he was hard to manage. Soon after his appointment he was He suffered more or less from dysuria asked to select a First Surgeon for which was attributed to excessive the Emperor, and Boyer was given horseback riding. Bourienne says he the post, much to the chagrin of was always cold and had a fire in his Antoine Dubois who was an old friend cabinet even in summer. He took a of Corvisart. daily hot bath which was followed Wednesday and Saturday were the at Corvisart’s suggestion by a vigor- days on which the First Physician ous rubbing with eau de Cologne. was present when the Emperor arose Napoleon’s head was so sensitive as well as when he retired. Even that his valet, Constant, broke in though Napoleon was in his morning his new hats by wearing them for a bath Corvisart was admitted at once. few days. Corvisart depended more If the august patient was in good on hygiene than on drugs in treating humor he often greeted him as follows, him. Napoleon also suffered from “Ah! there you are, great charlatan! constipation which Corvisart treated How many patients are you going to with the following mixture: Tartar kill today?” “Not many, Sire,” was emetic .025 gm., soluble cream of the usual reply. Napoleon once asked tartar 30 gm., sugar 60 gm., and water Corvisart if there were many sick 1000 gm. This was taken in glassful in Paris. “Not so many, Sire,” he doses. The Emperor was in constant answered. “How much money did fear of poison and literally rolled you earn yesterday forenoon?” was about on the ground at the slightest the next question. “I do not know, indigestion. Corvisart reproved him Sire, I did not count it.” “But, for this saying, “Get up! What would Corvisart, you must have earned at be said if the master of the world were least 200 francs.” “Not so much, seen thus crushed by fear.” Sire.” “But you do not charge less Napoleon was not partial to drugs, than twenty francs per visit.” “Par- as a rule, believing that they should don me, Sire, but I have no fixed fee; be reserved for exceptional cases. He I sometimes take as little as three often teased Corvisart about the un- certainty of medical practice, speak- refuse this place for my brother, ing on one occasion as follows. “But because it demands a capacity which you yourself, have you never killed he does not possess. I know that he anyone, that is to say, have not is poor, but that is my affair.” Na- patients died as a result of your poleon turned to the Minister who remedies?” “Without doubt,” re- had made the recommendation and plied Corvisart, “but I have not more said, “Do you know many like that on my conscience than Your Majesty man there?” He often spoke of Cor- who has caused cavalrymen to perish visart as honest and capable, but not because you have ordered the somewhat rude. wrong maneuvre but because there Soon after the birth of the King of was a ditch or a precipice in their Rome, Corvisart deemed it wise to path which could not be seen at the counsel the Emperor as follows: outset.” “Sire,” said he, “this child should Charlatans received scant mercy at fulfil your last wish. Consider from the Emperor’s hands, but he had the what a position you have arisen in highest opinion of such physicians as less than ten years: lieutenant, cap- Corvisart, Larrey and Bichat. He tain, brigadier-general, general-in- was very much touched at the latter’s chief, First Consul, Emperor, spouse early demise and remarked, “That of an Austrian Archduchess and the he would have greatly enlarged the father of a male child. You have domain of medicine, so imperfect, reached the summit of the Wheel of yet so dear to humanity, if death Fortune and of great renown. Stop! had not stricken him at the early Sire, or Destiny may desert you age of twenty-eight.” and then nothing remains but down- At the instigation of Corvisart, fall and disaster.” “Well,” replied the Bonaparte while First Consul, Emperor, “that was just such a speech directed Citizen Chaptai, Minister as one would expect from a native of the Interior, to place in Hotel-Dieu of the Champagne.” a marble slab dedicated to the mem- It has been said that the three ory of Citizens Desault and Bichat, men whom Napoleon esteemed the as a testimonial to their services, most for their honesty and frankness the first-named having been the verit- were Larrey, Percy and Corvisart, all able restorer of French surgery and physicians. the latter having enriched medicine For some years Corvisart was wont with many useful works. to go hunting on Saturday, leaving Helme states that the three men no word as to his whereabouts so as upon whom Napoleon did not succeed to remain undisturbed. On a certain in completely imposing himself were Saturday in 1811 the usual visit found Fouche, the Minister of Police, Mar- Napoleon in excellent health, so the shall Bernadotte afterwards King of First Physician went hunting but Sweden and Corvisart. where no one knew. As luck would Corvisart’s well-known honesty was have it the Emperor was taken with never more in evidence than when the a violent colic after luncheon which Emperor notified him that his brother was, as usual, eaten very hurriedly. had been given an official position. Corvisart could not be located so Yvan, “Permit me,” cried Corvisart, “to Ordinary Surgeon to His Majesty, was called and quickly relieved him. Hear- English prisoners, something which ing of this Corvisart did not wait the members of his family could for the next regular day but called not always obtain. Corvisart never on Napoleon the following Monday. asked a favor for himself but did not When he saw him the Emperor hesitate to interest himself in behalf hastened to Corvisart and taking of those whom he deemed worthy: as his hands exclaimed, “Well, Sir! if I for example in the defense of Baudeloc- am seriously ill I might die while que, the obstetrician, who was un- looking for you.” Napoleon did not justly accused of carelessness. harbor a grudge against him on Corvisart delighted in collecting account of this for soon afterward antiques, receiving many as presents he gave Corvisart a key to his from friends and admirers, Josephine private hunting preserves. Thereafter and Marie Louise both being par- the First Physician always left word ticularly generous in this respect. as to his whereabouts. It is said that he preferred to unearth Napoleon delighted in discussing some curio himself rather than to medical questions with Corvisart of receive it as a token of esteem. Having which the following is an example. attended an auction where he pur- One day after the Egyptian campaign chased a cane which had belonged he spoke of the bubonic plague, to Voltaire he visited Napoleon a saying that it was contracted rather little later, cane in hand. “Why the by inspiration than by contact and cane, Corvisart?” asked the emperor. that its greatest danger was in the “Have you been injured?” “No, fear it aroused which rendered it Sire,” was the reply. “ I am merely more dangerous to those in dread of it. availing myself of an ancient privilege Moral courage is the best preventa- of the chief physicians of the French tive. He claimed to have proved rulers. For they presented themselves this by touching many soldiers ill in this manner at the Court.” “But with the plague at Jaffa and also the cane is not at all good-looking. stated that he had saved many of Why should you carry such a ridicu- them by bolstering up their morale lous thing?” “Sire, this cane cost me by assuring them that they did not a pretty penny but it was a bargain have the dread disease. just the same.” “Tell me, Corvisart, Las Cases and Comte Mole have what did you pay for it?” “Fifteen both shown that on several occasions hundred francs, Sire.” “My heavens! Napoleon attempted to study anat- 1500 francs?” “But Sire, it belonged omy on the cadaver. These seances to a great writer.” “Who was he?” under the direction of Corvisart came “Voltaire.” “I do not care for him,” to naught because the Emperor’s was the rejoinder, “for his sarcasm delicate stomach forbade his going fur- ruined all which was worthy of respect ther. Another time Corvisart brought in him. He undermined authority by to him part of a human stomach corrupting the public morale.” which caused an instant emptying After the victorious campaign of of Napoleon’s own gastric organ. 1809, ending in the capture of Vienna, As a token of esteem Napoleon Napoleon was affected with a scaling even granted the requests of his dermatitis of the neck which proved chief physician for the release of very annoying. As he himself after- wards related, the celebrated Viennese count of violent attacks of migraine. physician Franck was summoned. He Her inability to produce an heir to said that it would be very dangerous the throne naturally came under his to apply a local remedy and drive attention; but Corvisart could suggest the eruption inward, adding that no remedy. the Elector of Treves had gone insane Corvisart first treated Marie Louise as a result of such treatment in a in April, 1810. Being summoned to similar condition. Being very much the Tuileries he found the young alarmed at this Napoleon ordered Empress suffering from vertigo and Duroc to send for Corvisart. He weakness the result of a slight in- hurried to Vienna and when he noted digestion. Two years later following the Emperor’s condition laughed and an abdominal examination she told said, “Is this the reason why Your her friend, the Duchess of Montebello, Majesty has summoned me for such a that she felt for a long time the long journey? A little sulphur will imprints of Corvisart’s fingers. Marie cure your eruption.” When told of Louise proved to be very self-centered Franck’s statement about the Elector and always complained of poor health. of Treves Corvisart ridiculed it, say- Corvisart, knowing his patient, was ing to Napoleon, “Such a comparison never alarmed by her stories. He is is ridiculous for he is an old man all credited with giving her pills made of worn out, while you are in good bread, from the inside of the loaf, sea- health.” As Corvisart predicted, sul- soned with sugar. With this pseudo- phur soon cured Napoleon’s skin remedy he cured her imaginary ail- lesions. Having attended to his pa- ments. January i, 1814, the Empress tient Corvisart was anxious to return gave to the First Physician a bust home, but the Emperor wished him of the King of Rome. Corvisart to remain and witness the impending exercised considerable influence over battle, allowing him however to de- this flighty woman, due to his friend- part after three days at Schoenbrunn. ship with her confident, the Duchess While there Corvisart visited the of Montebello, who was the daughter son of Stoll, the clinician whom he of his old crony, Monsieur Guehenenc so greatly admired. He also paid and the wife of the brave Marshall a visit to Franck whom he thanked Jean Lannes killed during the battle most sarcastically for causing him of Essling near Vienna, in 1809. such a long useless trip. When Napoleon left Paris January Corvisart did not approve of Na- 25, 1814, to fight the Allies, Marie poleon’s marriage to Marie Louise Louise was named Regent and Cor- believing that matrimony with a visart continued to care for her as younger woman would be disastrous. well as for Josephine at Malmaison. He was correct, of course. March 30 the Allies were at Paris, Usually after seeing the Emperor, so Marie Louise left the capital and Corvisart called upon Josephine who, after a roundabout trip returned to despite excellent health, always Rambouillet where she met her father, imagined herself to be ailing. She Francis n, Emperor of Austria. In a took purgatives on many occasions tiny morocco leather book Corvisart and wished the First Physician to noted that on April 6, 1814, the treas- even allow her to take more on ac- ure chest of Marie Louise contained 5,620 francs in gold and 568 francs and family and court as well. Efforts 75 centimes in silver. were made to supplant him but without May 3, 1814, Corvisart, then in success. Bale, Switzerland, received the follow- At that time, according to Cabanes, ing letter forwarded to him by the Corvisart was ill and in financial Empress. difficulty due to a business failure, Frejus, April 28, 1814. being forced to dispose of his silver- Baron Corvisart: I have received your ware and to put his country place at letter of April 22 and I have noted with Colombes on the market. May 20 pleasure your actions during the recent Corvisart left Vienna but later joined events when others have behaved so Marie Louise at Aix in Savoy where miserably. I am grateful to you and this she went for the baths. August 20 confirms the opinion I had already con- of that same year he suddenly aban- ceived of your character. Give me the doned her and returned to Paris. news of Marie Louise, Corvisart and do not doubt my feelings toward you. Do During the One Hundred Days not give yourself up to melancholy ideas between Napoleon’s return to Elba as I hope that you will live on to render and his defeat at Waterloo, Corvisart service, and also for your friends. was restored to the position of First Yours, Physician. It is said that soon after Napoleon. the Emperor’s final abdication he retired to Courbevoie near Paris. According to General Gourgaud, Following a slight paralytic attack who shared the captivity of Napoleon, in 1815 Corvisart gave up entirely he turned against Corvisart because the practice of medicine. He lived he advised Marie Louise against join- six years more. A final stroke on ing him at Elba. Gourgaud quotes as September 15, 1821, resulted in his follows: “If she (Marie Louise) had death three days later, about four been well advised and had not had near months after that of Napoleon at Saint her that low creature Montebello and Helena. that Corvisart whom I now know to be a miserable fellow, she would have Bibliogr aph y accompanied me.” Cabanes blames 1. Lass us , J. M., Corvisart et La Cardiologie. Corvisart for advising the Empress These de Paris, 1927. not to go with Napoleon. It appears 2. Chemi n , T., Corvisart et La Clinique. that he gave her the opinion which she These de Paris, 1928. wished and so acted as her willing 3. Cabane s , A., Dans L’Intimite de L’Em- pereur. Paris, Michel, A., 1924. accomplice. 4. Caban es , A., Au Chevet de L’Empereur. Among Corvisart’s other illustrious Paris, Michel, A., 1924. patients we may mention Hortense 5. Corv is art des Marets , J. N., Essai sur de Beauharnais, Queen of Holland, les maladies et les lesions du coeur et des the Queen of Spain, Pauline Bona- gros vaisseaux. Ed. 3. Paris, Mequig- parte, Napoleon’s sister and Madame non-Marvis, 1818. 6. Helme . La Maison de Corvisart. Presse Walewska, one of his best known Med., 17: 657, 1909. loves. In short Corvisart attended 7. Helme . Corvisart. Medecin de Napoleon. most of the members of the imperial Presse Med.» 17: 689, 1909.