LIFE AND WRITINGS OF BECLARD. 



enter, from that moment also ceased that torpor which had so 

 long held his faculties in chains. 



He began the study of medicine in 1S14. A circumstance 

 soon presented itself, as if on purpose, to give to Beclard a 

 knowledge of his powers: a competition occurred for the first 

 time for the situation of resident physician in the hospital. 

 One of the pupils, who since has been lost in the crowd, had 

 then a reputation, we might say brilliant, for every age has its 

 kind of celebrity, and was considered as a very formidable 

 competitor; so much so as to fix the eyes of every one on 

 him, for that situation. Notwithstanding this, Beclard so as- 

 tonished his judges with the extent of his knowledge, and the 

 precision of his language, that he was proclaimed the success- 

 ful candidate. This was the first glimpse of that glory which 

 was to shine on him, even to his tomb. 



During his residence in the hospital of Angers, he conse- 

 crated almost all his time to the study of anatomy -a study for 

 which he had a great predilection; he accustomed himself to 

 observe every kind of malady, which were infinitely varied, 

 and which presented themselves in an abode opened to all the 

 miseries to which humanity is subject. He habituated himself 

 to a skilful manipulation of the knife. He studied with expert 

 masters, among whom Mirault was a distinguished practi- 

 tioner, and whose name is enrolled in the pages of our art. He 

 learned, I say, to interpret with wisdom, and without preju- 

 dice, the facts which abound in our science, and from which 

 we are often exposed to draw conclusions favourable to our fa- 

 vourite opinions; finally, he received from this school, more 

 useful than celebrated, the germ of a correct knowledge, and 

 of that eclectic and rigorously exact mind which afterwards 

 rendered him so valuable a man. The example of Beclard, 

 and his success, prove, better than a long argument, the utility 

 of elementary or secondary schools of medicine, where the 

 number of pupils being small, they have a better opportunity 

 to observe for themselves, and consequently, are enabled early 

 to obtain that experience which in the larger schools, the eager 

 crowd of students never acquire but with the greatest trouble. 

 Thus we see him leaving the retired scenes of his first studies, 



