Naval Medical school of Rochefort

As of creation, in 1666, Arsenal of Rochefort wanted by Colbert, it was decided to install a hospital there. But the decision to create a school of anatomy and surgery was made only under the Régence (1715-1720). The reputation of the school of Rochefort, like its radiation, became considerable during the 18th century at the point to be used as model with the whole of the other schools of the kingdom (Toulon and Brest).

The history of the school of Rochefort is marked by three characters who have, especially for the two first, largely contributed to its glare: Jean Pig-Dupuy (1674-1757), his son, Gaspard (1710-1788) and Pierre Pig-Duvivier (1731-1811), cousin distant from Gaspard.

It is under the Directoire (1795-1799) that the name of school of anatomy and surgery changes to become that of naval medical school (1798).

Evolution of the institution (1666-1800)

1. The beginnings

The establishment of the hospital initially took place in Tonnay-Charente, in the Saint-Éloi priory but for lack of place, the structure was transferred in 1683 inside the arsenal of Rochefort, near the store of the vivres. The building is then called Hospital-Charente.

In 1704, under the auspices of the intendant Michel Bégon, Jean Pig-Dupuy becomes second doctor of the navy in Rochefort. With died of his superior, Doctor Gallot, he becomes first doctor (1712).

The first official traces of teaching appear in 1715. The principal ambition of Pig-Dupuy is to open a school of anatomy and surgery. Thanks to the continuous support of the intendant François de Beauharnais, a first amphitheater is open in 1722. The school of Rochefort was born and she is promised with an exceptional future.

2. The school at the 18th century

From the years 1720, the school experiences a spectacular development. In 1725, one counts eight ordinary surgeons and twelve pupils. In 1740, manpower fell to ten for the surgeons but passed to thirty for the pupils. In 1759, the school counts thirty surgeons and a hundred subordinates.

This rise is partly due to the support of the count of Maurepas. In 1727, the school accommodates the Secretary of State navy, come assisted with two lessons in the amphitheater and a demonstration from dissection by the pupils. Maurepas then takes conscience of the interest of such structures. It makes open a school with Brest (1631) whereas Toulon had imitated Rochefort since 1725 (opening of a simple room of dissection), but the arsenal of Provence was badly equipped.

However, each arsenal preserves a formation independent of from/to each other. In 1737, Rochefort obtains its own payment. It will be imposed in 1768 on all the other medical schools naval of the kingdom. The historian Jean-Luc Suberchicot sees in Pig-Dupuy the precursor of hospital clinical teaching.

With died of Jean Pig-Dupuy (1757), the school of health of Rochefort is an important institution (400 beds) and perennial. However, because of increasing needs, the hospital is too small. In 1783, a new hospital is built under the direction of the engineer Pierre Toufaire. The building is inaugurated in 1788 under the name of hospital of the Hillock. A space is reserved there for the school of Anatomie and Chirurgie.

During the century, Rochefort was also illustrated by its specialization as regards Botanique. The first gardens were created by the intendant of the navy Michel Bégon (1697-1710) and the seconds by Gaspard Pig-Dupuy. The knowledge of botany was essential with the apothecaries of the time (the chemical pharmacopeia develops at the next century).

3. The school for the revolutionary period (1789-1800)

The hospital changes name under the Revolution and becomes the hospital of Fraternity. The former payments are cancelled. Henceforth, advance is done by individual nomination (instead of contest).

In 1798, one dissociates the school subjects. The anatomy and the surgery form the medical school while the apothecaries become pharmacists but separation in two distinct bodies (Médecine and Pharmacie) is made only in 1866 pennies Napoleon III.

Course of the studies

1 Admission of the pupils

To integrate the school of anatomy and surgery, it was necessary to be at least fifteen years old, without physical incapicity and to satisfy an examination of entry passed in front of the medical authorities of the arsenal.

2 Organization of the schooling

Teaching was subdivided in three parts.

the internal medicine was taught by the first doctor. He exempted courses of general medicine, botany and on the use of the remedies.

the anatomy and the surgery were taught by the army surgeon.

the practical teaching of the surgery was taught by a surgeon-demonstrator. He learned to young people the Dissection, the Cautérisation, the techniques of binding, etc

The installation of the Bagne and the arrival of the convicts (1766) made it possible the hospital to recruit of the personnel. When that one of them would die (approximately 150 per annum), its body was used for the teaching of the anatomy. The pupils could be thus exerted with the dissection, the Amputation and the Trépanation. This represented an unquestionable advantage on the civil schools of surgery of Paris or Montpellier (practical prohibited)

The pupils had in Rochefort structures of quality: bond school-hospital, botanical gardens (vegetable pharmacopeia at the time) and library.

Jean Pig-Dupuy invited his pupils to visit the room of the patients, with reading the regulations of the doctors, attending the pharmacy. The courses of botany took place the summer, and they were replaced the winter by courses on the art of bindings.

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