Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-02-27
Napo!eon's Health When He Made War.

Paris Letter in the London telegraph.
Prof. German See has just added some very
interesting particulars to the information
which sent you yesterday respecting the cir
cumstances under which the condition of Ma
poleon Ill was kept secret at the moment of
the declaration of war with Germany in 1870
He says that being summc neo in attendance
on the emperor OF June 20 of that year he soon
OWNED the true state of the case. The emf
nent savant tells Us for the first time that in
the course OF conversation he asked his patient
to give him some idea of his health since 1864
and that the emperor replied at once that he
had hit the mark. as IL was to the accident
which occurred in that year at Neufchatel that
he attributed his illness. He had gone to visit
the tomb OF his mother in COMPANY with the
empress. Princess Anna Murat and Madame
Carette, when the horses bolted and the CARR
age was upset From that day he was never
the same man. Prof. German See had ex-
pressed a wish to meet in consultation the
doctors who had attended Napoleon Ill. and
they all assembled on the morning of July at
the house OF DIR. Conneau. He startled
his colleagues by giving them his candid
opinion of the case. but although hitherto they
had entertained different views, they Welded
finally to his arguments. Then came the ques-
ton as to whether an operation should take
place Immediately. Prof. German See spoke
strongly in its favor. but some of his medical
the emperor like an ordinary patient-advo-
Gated delay. Still Prof. German See pressed
his point, eventually winning over DIR. Ricord
to his side. but the dread of responsibility was
50 great that their colleagues asked to be al
lowed to wait until the summer was over. In
September they would decide what they should
do. Finally the majority voted for q post.
ponement of energetic measures The professor
was requested to draw up a report, and on
July he handed it to DIR. Conneau, being un
I n .,.x,z al.N l..
all his colleagues 1t was not until September
that he ascertained that they had not done
SO. and he learned this fact under very peculiar
circums Iances- NJ Jules Favre had obtained
possession of the document, and ne sent his sec
retary-who is now project OF Rouen-to inquire
what il all meant Prof. German See afirms
that all the particulars of this memorable con
sultation had been withheld from the empress
| by DIR. Conneau, and adds that Napoleon III
himself was not acquainted with the detail.
until twelvemonth afterwsrd. All this evi
| dence seems to establish conclusively the fac,
that the emperor. the empress and all their en-
! tourage-with the exception of the doctors
had no idea OF tho very serious character G,
the illness from which Napoleon Ill was suffer
ing, and justifies fairly the inference that il
| they had known the bitter truth the declara
ton Of war with Germany at lest would have
I been postponed. The dread of responsible,
! In q surgical case thus led to one Of the great
| est catastrophes of modern times. DIR. Con
neau, by the way, was not one OF the medical
| men who voted for or against the operation
but attended simply a. q witness the copsulta,
! ton vhish took place ct his house