1835.] Baron Dupuytren. ^3 



officer whose regiment was passing through Pierre Buffiere. 

 Dupuytren was then twelve years of age, and was playing 

 in the public square. The officer observing him, asked him 

 some questions, and was answered with such intelligence 

 and readiness that he was astonished. He spoke to the 

 boy of Paris, and of the possibility of his taking him there. 

 Dupuytren received the proposal of the officer with joy, 

 quitted his play, bade adieu to his native town, and departed 

 for Paris with 10 francs (8s. 4d.) in his pocket. When he 

 arrived at Paris, Dupuytren was admitted into the College 

 of La Marche, of which the brother of the officer was rector. 

 There he distinguished himself, and carried off some prizes 

 for acquirements in philosophy. His talents were first 

 observed by Saint Simon, then by Thouret. The former, who 

 was the originator of a sect which has made a great noise 

 lately, and was made almost a diety, mounted one day to 

 the garret of Dupuytren. The cold was piercing, and the 

 student was studying in his bed. Saint Simon sat down 

 upon a frozen pan, conversed with Dupuytren, ahd on going 

 away, left on the pan tHe sum of 200 francs (£8. 6s. 8d.). 

 In ordinary cases the inhabitant of a garret would have 

 found means of laying out such a sum. But Dupuytren, 

 considering that he ought not to accept of it, went to Saint 

 Simon and said to him, " Sir, you left, by mistake, this 

 sum at my house, I beg to return it." Saint Simon only 

 replied, " it is true," and pocketed the money. 



Thouret was soon convinced of the superior parts possessed 

 by Dupuytren, and used his exertions to have him settled 

 at Paris. When vacancies occurred at the great hospitals 

 of France, at Strasburg, or Montpellier, if a proposal was 

 made to Dupuytren to apply for them, he received it with 

 gratitude, but always refused, from a fear that he was not 

 fitted for the situation, and, at the same time, he pointed 

 out men who were worthy of the place. It was thus that 

 an excellent choice was made for Rouen, Montpellier, and 

 Clermont. Boyer, Corvisart, and Thouret, assisted in this 

 method of election adopted by Dupuytren. 



Dupuytren, was earnestly requested to accept the chair 

 at Montpellier by some individuals; to whom Thouret 

 replied, that that city was not rich enough to recompense 



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