System Number: 12332
Date: [23/30 April 1867][1]
Author: H. E. Gantillon[2]
Place: Paris
Recipient: [unknown]
Repository: Published[3]
Document Type: PLc
Paris,
1867,
12, Rue du Mont-Thabor.
Je, soussigné, déclare avoir été appelé le 20 Avril, 1867, pour visiter un malade du nom de Mr — —[4]. En entrant dans sa chambre à coucher, j'ai trouvé ce malade dans un état d'ivresse complet. Je fus forcé alors d'avertir sa femme[5] de la nature de l'indisposition de son mari, et après avoir prescript les médicaments nécessaires pour la nuit, je me suis retiré.
En faisant ma 2ième visite le lendemain matin, je le trouvais d'abord un peu soulagé, mais pendant le temps que je suis resté dans la maison, il survint une attaque de delirium tremens tellement grave, que je me suis décidé à le mettre en garde.
Il avait un couteau à la main avec lequel il frappait à grands coups tous les meubles de sa chambre, et après avoir fait constater son état par le commissaire de Police, avec l'aide de deux hommes, je le fis transporter à la maison de santé de M. le Docteur Brierre de Boismont[6], où, après une succession de paroxysms, il mourut. Ce cas de delirium tremens était un de ceux des plus fortement accentués.
H. E. GANTILLON, M. D.
This document is protected by copyright.
Translation:
I, the undersigned, declare that I was summoned on 20 April 1867 to visit a sick man named Mr — —. On entering his bedroom, I found the sick man in a state of complete drunkenness. I was obliged to advise his wife of the nature of her husband's indisposition, and having prescribed medicaments necessary for the night, I withdrew.
On making my second visit the following morning, I found him at first slightly recovered, but during the time that I was in the house, he suffered such a serious attack of delirium tremens that I decided he should be taken into care.
He had a knife in one hand with which he struck fierecely at all the furniture in his room and, having reported his condition to the police commissioner, I had him taken with the help of two men to the hospital of Dr Brierre de Boismont, where, following a succession of paroxysms, he died. This case of delirium tremens was one of the most pronounced.
Notes:
1. [23/30 April 1867]
Written following Traer's death on 23 April; see below.
2. H. E. Gantillon
H. E. Gantillon, M.D., author of a book on diseases of the womb (1868) [more].
3. Published
Published in F. S. Haden, Paris Jurors (London: James Toovey, 1867). The originial document has not been located.
4. Mr — —
James Reeves Traer (ca 1834 - d.1867), partner in F. S. Haden's medical practice [more]. Traer died suddenly on 23 April of alcohol related causes, during a trip to Paris. This led to a quarrel between JW and Francis Seymour Haden (1818-1910), surgeon and etcher, JW's brother-in-law [more]. Haden arranged for Traer's burial, with what JW and his brother William regarded as unseemly haste. On 26 April 1867, a violent row took place between the brothers-in-law in a Paris café and Haden fell (or allegedly was pushed by JW) through a plate glass window. Both JW and Haden were members of the Burlington Fine Arts Club and in the aftermath of the Traer affair, Haden campaigned for JW to be excluded from the club (JW to L. Huth, #02240). The publication of Paris Jurors (op. cit.) was probably part of that campaign.
5. femme
Louisa Jane Holloway Traer (b. ca 1839, m. 1856), née Savage, wife of James R. Traer [more]. She was not, as far as is known, in Paris at this time.
6. M. le Docteur Brierre de Boismont
Dr Alexandre-Jacques-François Brierre de Boismont (1797-1881), psychoanalyst, Director of the maison de santé in Paris [more]. See his letter, dated 27 April 1867 (#11801).