THE SCIENTIFIC SPIRIT IN FRANCE. 



141 



tion, Cuvier remarks : " It was not merely a question of 

 isolated discoveries, but of institutions, which, in assuring 

 the conservation of the sciences, would multiply their 

 progress indefinitely. What was needed was no longer a 

 simple experimenter, master of his subject and his instru- 

 ments, it was a man obliged to battle against all kinds of 

 obstacles, and to benefit his fellow-citizens, mostly in spite 

 of themselves. The Convention had destroyed academies, 

 colleges, universities; nobody would have dared to ask 

 boldly for their restitution ; but soon the effects of their 

 suppression showed themselves in the most susceptible 

 point; the armies were without doctors and surgeons, 

 and these could not be created without schools. 1 But 

 who would believe that time was required to give courage 

 enough to call them schools of medicine. Doctor and 

 surgeon were titles too contrary to equality, apparently 

 because there is no authority over the patient more neces- 

 sary than that of the doctor ; therefore the odd term 

 " schools of health " was used, and there was no question 

 of either examination or diploma for the students. In 

 spite of this, a penetrating glance reveals, in the regula- 

 tions which were carried, the intentions of him (Fourcroy) 

 who drew them up. The three great schools founded at 



1 See 'Eloges,' vol. i. p. 353. 

 " Cependant les gens qui avaient 

 fait toutes ces suppressions eurent 

 promptement lieu de s'apercevoir 

 que, s'il e"tait a la rigueur superflu 

 d'apprendre toute autre chose, on 

 ne pouvait guere se dispenser d'ap- 

 prendre la me'decine. Toute la 

 France se pre"cipitait aux frontieres, 

 et, apres des prodiges inouis de 

 deVouement et de valeur, les d^fen- 

 seurs de la patrie ne trouvaient 



aucun secours pour leurs blessures 

 et pour leurs maladies. On com- 

 men9a done par 1'erection des e"coles 

 de me'decine cette longue suite de 

 restaurations, que 1'etablissement 

 de 1'universitd vient de couronner 

 et de lier en un ensemble aussi 

 imposant par l'e"tendue de son plan 

 que par la vigeur de son organisa- 

 tion." See also 'Rapport,' &c., p. 

 360. 



