CHAPTER XL
THE DEVELOPMENT OF SURGERY IN FRANCE (Continued).—AMBROISE PARÉ
Ambroise Paré was born, about the year 1517, at Laval,
a small town in the Department of Mayenne, France. His
father was probably the valet and barber of the Count of
Laval. He went to Paris in early manhood and spent three
years, at this period, in fitting himself for the career of a
surgeon. He attended lectures on anatomy and surgery,
did a certain amount of dissecting, served for over two
years as a surgeon's assistant in the great hospital of
Hôtel-Dieu, made notes of some of the cases which he saw,
and was occasionally permitted to prescribe for patients
and even to perform some minor operations. From 1536
onward, nearly up to the time of his death, he was almost
continuously engaged, in the capacity of a surgeon, in
accompanying different French armies on their military
expeditions. His professional title at first was that of
"barber," but he doubtless very soon discovered that, if
he wished to advance, it would be absolutely necessary for
him to secure a higher title. Accordingly, in 1541, he and
his friend Thierry de Héry presented themselves for, and
passed successfully, the required examination and were
accepted as "master-barbers." It is an interesting fact
that, during his long professional career, Paré was Chief
Surgeon to four Kings of France in succession—first to
Henry the Second (1547-1559), next to Francis the Second
(1559-1560), then to Charles the Ninth (1560-1574), and
finally to Henry the Third (1574-1589). The last-named
King bestowed upon him the additional honor of "Councilor
to his Majesty." He also served, during a certain
period of his career, as an attending surgeon at Hôtel-Dieu.
