96 Biographical Account of [Aug. 



Dupuytren defended his thesis with the greatest success, 

 and was declared professor. 



At the Hotel Dieu, where once Desault had exhibited his 

 remarkable enthusiasm for his favourite art, and where 

 Pelletan also flourished, Dupuytren became chief surgeon 

 in 1818, having been elected professor of clinical surgery 

 in 1815. In the hospital he displayed an astonishing degree 

 of activity, bestowing great attention on his lectures, which 

 were very well attended. Thus the admirers of Desault 

 and the friends of Pelletan immediately appreciated the 

 talents of Dupuytren. 



He rose at sunrise, went to the Hotel Dieu, and only left it 

 at 11 o'clock. After his installation he wished to see and do 

 every thing himself. In the wards Dupuytren spoke little, 

 especially to the students. If any one wished to ask him a 

 question, it was necessary to do so before the visit, when 

 he was not occupied with the preparation of his day's lec- 

 ture. Notwithstanding the greatest precautions he some- 

 times answered with a disdainful look, which gave sad 

 offence. In this respect he differed greatly from the good 

 M. J. L. Petit, who instituted a course of surgery for the 

 express purpose of answering questions. M. Petit spoke 

 to the students with as great politeness as if he had been 

 addressing the most distinguished men of his time. The 

 surgeon of the Hotel Dieu answered sometimes ; but there 

 was something sharp and bitter in his replies, which silenced 

 the most intrepid of the students. When he arrived at the 

 patient's bed he remained for a moment, and addressed to the 

 sick generally three questions, in the mildest tone of voice. 

 If the patient gave a suitable answer the conversation was 

 continued in the same accent, but if his answers were not 

 connected properly with the questions, Dupuytren caught 

 his humour, and sometimes it was necessary for the patient 

 to become serious in order that he might recover the mild- 

 ness of his tone, which he should never have lost. Dupuy- 

 tren considered that patients had always a desire of con- 

 cealing the truth, or a part of the truth. It is melancholy 

 to confess that this idea was well founded. Those who have 

 attended the great hospitals can attest its truth. It is not 

 necessary here to investigate the causes of these mysteries 

 of the human mind, but it is proper to mention that this 



