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«Joy of Pygmalion»: the worldview of a surgeon as described in the «Memoires» by Dominique-Jean Larrey

Berger Elena

The article analyzes the inner world of a surgeon as described in the “Memoires” by Dominique-Jean Larrey. An attempt is made to find out to what extent his profession influenced upon his value system. Larrey was indifferent to the politics as well as the purposes of Napoleon wars. The medical profession requires to follow certain rules, and according to them Larrey provided assistance to all the wounded including the prisoners and made interesting observations on habits and customs of various nations. “The Memoirs’ reflect a sort of “professional deformation” of a physician, obeying the principles of medical ethics, great empathy, the compassion to illnesses and troubles, desire to help any individual patient.

Keywords: Dominique-Jean Larrey, war surgery, Ambroise Paré, Napoleon wars
Link: Berger E. «Joy of Pygmalion»: the worldview of a surgeon as described in the «Memoires» by Dominique-Jean Larrey // Annual of French Studies 2019: The era of Napoleon and her memory.М. P. 267-283.