1835.] JBaron Dupuytren. STJ 



fact is well displayed among the hospital patients in 

 Paris. 



To patients upon whom operations were performed, and 

 with children, Dupiiytren was always gentle, it might be 

 said even amiable. He possessed such an influence over 

 them, that in his presence they seldom complained of their 

 sufferings. He had a way of putting the question, " Are 

 you in pain,'' so, that he almost constantly received the 

 answer, '* iVb." 



He employed this magnetic power to disconcert his asso- 

 ciate. If a phlegmonous tumour presented itself, he would 

 say, " Do you think, sir, there is pus here." If there was 

 fluid, the eye of Dupuytren would intimate a negative 

 answer to the professor. ^' Bring a bistoury," then would 

 exclaim the surgeon, and immediately a flow of purulent 

 matter took place. The poor associate obtained, however, 

 some consolation, for the whole day after, this great man 

 was uncommonly obliging to him. No one was less severe 

 to his victim than Dupuytren.* Generally, however, he 

 made a better use of this moral influence which he pos- 

 sessed in such a high degree. It is well known, that to 

 reduce certain dislocations, many diflSculties are experienced 

 from the contraction of the muscles. In order to remove 

 this effect, Dupuytren recommended taking off" the atten- 

 tion of the patient. He joined example with precept in a 

 most remarkable manner. One day a woman who did not 

 belong to the lowest rank was brought to the Hotel Dieu. 

 She had dislocated her arm, and all the trials which had 

 been made to reduce it had failed. Preparations were 

 made for employing extension and counter-extension. Two 

 attempts at reducing the luxation being unsuccessful, 

 Dupuytren cried out, *' Madam, one is never betrayed 

 except by their own family. You are addicted to wine, 

 your son told me so." The poor patient who was a woman 

 of uncommon temperate habits, was so much excited by 

 this exclamation that she fainted. Dupuytren took advan- 

 tage of this weakness and reduced the dislocation. He 

 then laughed and clapping her on the head, said, " I know 

 madam that you drink nothing but water." 



* He would certainly assert his superiority in this way, at times, when any one 

 aspired to be ranked as his equal ; but of others he would not wantonly expose the 

 errors. He was more willing to aid than to chide the unassuming. 



