Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1857-11-07
Larrey. the soldier surgeon.


If there is any man Of whom the Pyre>
nees may be proud to have given birth, it
is he who was pronounced by Napoleon |
to be the most honest man in his empire.
EadoWed with noble heart, vast intel
hgence, and vivid imagination, Larrey
was, indeed, worthy of the friendship giv~
en- to him by the greatest man of modern
times. His name, too, holds an equally
distinguished position at the present day,
not only among men Of science, but a.
mongst all who are benefactors ofhutnani-
ty.. 'lf ever the army raises column of
gratitude,' said Napoleon, 1T owes one to
Baron Larfey.' This debt has been paid.
The Government, the army, all France,
has Joined in the national labor of love,
and the truthful bronze now recalls to rs
tbs venerated traits of him whom we may
Justly term the Father OF French military
surgery; for, from Ambrose Pare-of
whose tilustrious memories but an lncom
nlete fragment has been transmitted to US
upio the first revolution, medicine was in
lis infancy. In the first days Of the Re-
public everything had 10 be done. ltwas
necessary to create, to organize, and the
genius Of Larrey alone was capable OF
this inmans undertaking. Formerly, our
wounded soldiers were carried to
distance from tile field Of battle to receive
the surgeons first attention; and many,
100 many, alas died before they traEersed
the route to the ambulances.
Larrey, seeing The insufficiency and
of nFHHFRn that
the wounded soldier should be cared tors
evenunder the FIRE of the enemy, and that
the military surgeons should share with
their comrades the dangers OF war. From
this arose his system OF ambulance cars
riages, containing every necessary proFls-
ion for acting on the spot. From tins tines
too. the French aray.surgeon, who had
before been considered a sort OF accessory
TO the army, gained de6nitlyeiy his place
oe honor on The field III battle. Larrey
formed one of that phalanx of savans
WIN accompanied Bonapalae to Egypt;
he was the friend and rival of Baron de
Genettes, who ifnmortalized himself by
his heroic conduct among the plague-
srriekeHat Jalfa. In this r0ngh and q.
borios = sapaign. herendered such servl-
ces to tlae French army that this page
clone in his life would have served to hand
his name down to posterity. Later, in all
The CAPITALS Of Europe, his Voice was
heard among scientific men, and philoso-
pliers of all nations came 70 listen 10 his
instructions. Even kings honored him
with their friendship.
After The coronation Of the Emperor,
when that great captain wished PERSONAL
III ID distribute Tie star of tile Legion of
Honor. he told LarreY that he Intended to
napae commander of the order. But, al
though d surgeon-in-chief, he would not
receive alone this distinctions and be told
the Emperor that he would not accept
the l1onar. without Baron Percy, anotlter
eminent surgeon, were accorded the same
favor. Napaleon yielded, and the two
REPRESENTATIVES of French medical science
were il.ns named, at the same tliIaes com
maadsfs ofs tEfe Legion Of Honor. This
fasr nietares tGie character Of the man.
Above all slse man of heart, be always
renamed ptIre and independent aiaoug
the eoursieFs who only echoed the opin.
ions of their master. n was not obstinacy,
but Ia frae spifis and q truthful Dispositions.
Lei rs sea that le did ~ Eslilsgg, when
the French army was surrounded, and
what began ia Be felt, even iia TIE aInbul-
anses. EEe told them to kili his owl tors-
Is, aud, upon bis responsibility, 70 saeriis-9
ce great number DC those of the superior
ofiisers, 70 make buifloa for bis sick aud
w0anded.
4he Indignant generals Of course, de-.
mauded reparaiion against LarreYs ana
the Emperor summoned the surgeon 70