10 Biographical Memoir of M. Corvisart. 



ing early in the raorning the writings which his father had pre- 

 scribed for him as the work of the day, and requesting the 

 clerks, his companions, to keep his secret, he occupied all the 

 hours that he could spare in attending the lectures of Petit, 

 Louis, Dessault, Vicq d'Azyr, and our estimable fellow mem- 

 ber M. Portal. His father at length perceiving his want of 

 assiduity, inquired into the cause of his conduct, and discovered 

 it ; but, finding that it was now too late to restrain him, he per- 

 mitted him to direct his whole attention to his new career. 

 The Academy has possessed many members, whom an irresisti- 

 ble propensity has thus led to escape from the more humble 

 plans which their relations had formed for them, and this per- 

 severance in seeking a profession, in defiance of all obstacles* 

 would undoubtedly be a good test for the choice of one ; but 

 how many young persons would be found whom these obstacles 

 would not completely arrest, or who would not enter on courses 

 worse than idleness or irresolution ? 



The mode of teaching medicine was then very far removed 

 from the extent and regularity which it has since attained. The 

 Faculty of Paris, an ancient body, organized in the middle 

 ages, had scarcely made any change in a system of government 

 that dated back five centuries. With the title of Doctor, all 

 its members received the right of teaching ; but they did not 

 become bound to teach. It was only by chance that a sufficient 

 number ever devoted themselves to the task of insuring a regu- 

 lar course of lectures to youth. Some professorships were, in- 

 deed, instituted in the Faculty, but their fee was wretchedly 

 small. The professors were changed every two years, the 

 younger doctors being made to occupy these chairs in regular 

 succession. They hastened to get through the drudgery, in 

 order to acquire the title of Regent Doctor, and, entering on 

 office without the preparation of study, they retired without 

 having formed themselves by practice. Besides, there were no 

 public lectures at the beds of the sick. In order to see a few 

 patients, the students accompanied the elder physicians in their 

 visits ; afterwards, when these elder physicians were unwell, or 

 too much busied with practice, they acted for them, and thus 

 they continued, till at length they, too, slowly attained their pro- 

 fessional rank. 1 



