The San Francisco call., 1908-07-12
By Paul Bourget

BY Paul Bourget
VERY one interested in medical studies
ousinted with name Of Professor Courri-
L oles. author Of that Treatise Psychiatry"
- which is for France what Kroeplin's book OF
Ere>It-Ebbings for Germany, what Korsakofs is
1or Russia and MareIrs is for Italy-the most
plete picture theories concerning the NAL
OF the mind Less elegant in form than Gilbert
Ballet, original his intuitons than Ernest
Dupre. encyclopedia Grasset, COurrioles de-
serves credit for having gathered together really
prodigious number clinical observations Perhaps
nothing all his theories, for example of
hypothesis calls the "demi-psyehoses"
his descriptions vivid. graphic that they
viii endure long those Of Trousseau
And what will also endure. among all who ever
him, is the remembrance OF Of the most sin
gular personages OF times Physically, Cour-
roles Is giant built massive lines whose
skin and gold spectacles would give him the as
pect OF German savant, not his appearance so
distinctly Latin in its delicacy and fnesse
the morning. grt in black riding coat whereon the
rosette OF the legion OF honor strikes the only clear
the hour. his
carriage OF yesterday today carries
re @ lesves about noon to return to the ous de Ia
Megissorie. where he lives exactly in front Of the
Conoiergeri In one Of the buildings OF this antique
prison is the nrnary belonging 70 the depot Of the
doctors attached 70 this depot de arrives at
o'clock usually >, sometimes until s..
His duties consist in examining all the people
rested on the puDlle streets WAo are suspected OF any
Of mental alienation At o'clock he is back in
altogether monastic minuteness and sobriety- Al s
observations made during the day until o'clock at
night. His study is hung with the ,strangest and
-t55s1 a16 5erenfed s,,bcrs sicofoifcs deenerates
paralytics This OF horrors. meticuously
cstslogued is prolonged into the bedroom the dining
room the corridor. Courrioles really happy
presence Of these documents o most
lsmentable OF human infrmites- He is not known 70
love. any taste, vice save psychiatry
He exists only for this-for science still D.
fancy-in which he has been indefatigable worker
deavor establish any practice. Sometimes wide
intervals. he permits himself be called con-
slltatloh "Heh lHe case IS an uhusuaiy me one.
His bill then. is big that with small
income in addition 10 his modest salaries as consult
ING physician IN ne asylum and the depot ne IS abe
live. He occupied the chair created for him the
Incompatible with the researches which he pursues
So nsssforare1 some small work ss an exnerf in the
would need suffice TO re-estabsh tho equil-
i6rium OF his budget which is rarely higher than
morning automobile, which economies him.
He is less economic Of words. OF gestures of all
manifestations OF his thought. When add that his
scientific integrity makes Of him master. in the
finest sense Of the word, you viii able TO under
stand the reputation ne enjoys among the students.
The latter consider II inestmable favor be ad-
mited 10 the examinations he makes Of his patients
a the asylum and especially at the depot But he is
ver iserly in granting the necessary authorization.
He has than pupils time in the
narrow hall OF the Conciergere where they bring him
the arrests made in the night the morning.
The individual in front Of him may have been
rested because stolen, because he pulled
voIver. he tried throw himself
cries attracted the attention passersby in
street whom his actions strange
that the police have taken him the inhrnary What
IS he2 A vulgar mslefactor sick man? II a sick
what is his malady2 The responsibility of this
inquiry IS tremendous a lines Courrioles
and this individual would be consigned insane
hospital given hack liberty. hypothesis
is the kndlier, because in the hospital will
smined anew. and possibly the diagnosis fam
psychiatrst viii be amended. is the second hy-
pothesis. that Of liberation which wrinkles
OF the physician in II the person in front
him be maniac whose mania he able
60 discern. and II tomorrow the day after
week hence this maniac transforms himself into
an incendiary assassin. what then2
This anxiety for his social duties giles in
mind OF the scientist with Joy of profes-
sional curiosity For after all, Individual is to
him, above aught else, And the infections of
Courroles voice betray despite himself ardor Of
his interest IN the This literally auscuts
the patient BY series OF little questions may
the psychstrst this intelligence and this
sensibility. Suddenly he round as
sistants sitting beside him
Well. Portchaute, what your diagnosisY"
The student. intimdated, hazards the reply
This is Gen-Pa" (the syllables which desiK-
general paralytic in the slang the hospitai)
And you. Croulebois7"
"A paranosc with ethyltic complications" answers
Crouiebois. IN a positive rtone.
Neither the the other" is CourrioIes cor
Tection And in few sentences he own con-
illusions adding comments which analyze cond-
ticn OF the patient who sometimes smiling but more
often frowning, assists stupidly this
his personality