LAENNEC RENE: (1781-1826)

LAENNEC RENE: (1781-1826) René Théophile-Hyacinthe Laennec. French physician who invented the stethoscope in 1816 and pioneered its use in diagnosing various chest conditions. Rare A.L.S., ` R.T.H Laennec´, one page, 8vo, Rennes, 13th Vendemiaire, An 8, (5th October 1799), to his father (' Mon cher papa'), in French. A young Laennec, aged eighteen, writes to his father as agreed with him, on his arrival to Rennes, and using a few puns and funny rhymes tries to downplay his father´s concerns about travelling at his age and in that time of the Chouannerie revolts. Laennec states in the third person ` Votre fils est arrivé ici en bonne santé. Il n´a rencontré ni chouant ni chat-huant, mais seulement une bande de forçats, forcés d´aller renforcer le baque de Brest. La route de Rennes à Nantes est également sûre. Je vous écris comme vous voyez sur beau papier et en beaux caractères´ (Translation: " Your son arrived here in good health. He met neither a Chouant nor a cat-hooting, but only a band of convicts, forced to go and reinforce the Brest barge. The road from Rennes to Nantes is also safe. I am writing to you as you see on beautiful paper and in beautiful characters") Overall age wear and creasing with uneven left and lower edges. F to G