Michel-Philippe Bouvart

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Michel-Philippe Bouvart
Order of St. Michael

Michel-Philippe Bouvart (Chartres, 11 January 1717 – Paris, 19 January 1787) was a French medical doctor.

He was made a member of the

Order of St. Michael in 1768 or 1769.[1][2]

Bouvart was famous for his quick diagnoses and accurate prognoses, but also for his caustic wit[3] and polemical writing against his fellow physicians, notably Théodore Tronchin, Théophile de Bordeu, Exupère Joseph Bertin [fr], Antoine Petit. He was opposed to inoculation against smallpox. He championed Virginia polygala or Seneka as a remedy for snakebite.[2][4]

Although he was able and learned, he is perhaps best known for his witticisms.[5]

Witticisms

We know that, in Paris, fashion imposes its dictates on medicine just as it does with everything else. Well, at one time, pyramidal elm bark[6] had a great reputation; it was taken as a powder, as an extract, as an elixir, even in baths. It was good for the nerves, the chest, the stomach — what can I say? — it was a true panacea. At the peak of the fad, one of Bouvard’s [sic] patients asked him if it might not be a good idea to take some: "Take it, Madame", he replied, "and hurry up while it [still] cures." [dépêchez-vous pendant qu’elle guérit]

— Gaston de Lévis, 1813[5]

Une dame consulta Bouvard [sic] sur le desir qu'elle avoit d'user un remède alors à la mode. Hâtez-vous de le prendre pendant qu'il guérit, lui répondit le caustique docteur.

A lady consulted Bouvart about her wish to use a remedy which was then fashionable. "Rush to take it while it [still] cures", replied the acerbic doctor.

— Anthelme Richerand, 1812[7]

Variants of Bouvart's quip about the placebo effect of using a new treatment or medicine "while it still works" are often quoted without crediting him.

It is said that he replied to Cardinal ***, a not very regular prelate (some say Abbot Terray), who was complaining of suffering like a damned person: "What! Already, monseigneur?" In my opinion, he might well have said this about one of his patients, but not to his face; manners would not allow that.

— Gaston de Lévis, 1813[5]

A "regular prelate" (prélat régulier) is a high-ranking churchman; this is a play on words, implying that he was irregular, that is, immoral. Abbot Terray is Joseph Marie Terray.

Mr. *** was being tried for a dishonorable matter; he got sick, and died. Bouvard [sic] was his doctor, and said: I got him off the hook. It was said of the same person: He is truly sick, he can't take any more [presumably medicine].

— Antoine-Denis Bailly, 1803[8]

Bouvart went to see one of the lords of the old Court, who was seriously ill for a fortnight. As he entered, Good day, Mr. Bouvart, said the patient. I am happy to see you. I feel much better; I think I no longer have a fever. Look! — I am certain of it, says the doctor; I noticed it at your first word. — How is that? — Oh! Nothing simpler. In the first days of your illness, and as long as you were in danger, I was your dear friend; you called me nothing else. The last time, when you were somewhat better, I was just your dear Bouvart. Today, I am Mr. Bouvart. It is clear that you are cured.

— L'esprit des journaux, 1794[3]

This story has been compared to Euricius Cordus's epigram:

Three faces wears the doctor; when first sought
An angel's--and a god's the cure half wrought
But when that cure complete, he seeks his fee,
The devil looks less terrible than he.

— Cordus, circa 1520[9]

Early life

Bouvart's father Claude was a physician.[1] Michel-Philippe received his medical degree in Reims in 1730 and practiced in Chartres. In 1736, he left for Paris.

Wikiquote has quotations related to Michel-Philippe Bouvart.

Bibliography

Notes

  1. ^ a b Guénet, Eloge historique
  2. ^ a b Hugh James Rose, A New General Biographical Dictionary, 1848 4:484, s.v.
  3. ^ a b L'esprit des journaux, françois et étrangers 23:2:74-75 (February 1794)
  4. ^ Alexander Chalmers, The General Biographical Dictionary etc., 6:247
  5. ^ a b c Gaston de Lévis, Souvenirs et portraits, 1780-1789, 1813, p. 240
  6. Ulmus campestris: Simon Morelot, Cours élémentaire d'histoire naturelle pharmaceutique..., 1800, p. 349 "the elm, pompously named pyramidal...it had an ephemeral reputation"; Georges Dujardin-Beaumetz, Formulaire pratique de thérapeutique et de pharmacologie, 1893, p. 260
  7. ^ Anthelme Richerand, Des erreurs populaires relatives à la médecine, p. 206 (footnote)
  8. Year XI) p. 15
  9. ^ "Anecdote", The Lancet, 3:256, May 22, 1824
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