Laennec. Catalogue des manuscrits scientifiques

LYDIE BOULLE, M.D. GRMEK, CATHERINE LUPOVICI, and JANINE SAMIONCONTET, Laennec. Catalogue des manuscrits scientifiques, Paris, Masson, 1982, 4to, pp. vi, 316, Fr. 200.00. The scientific manuscripts of Laennec, among them such important unpublished items as his course in the College de France embracing all of medicine, or a book on pathological anatomy, are now distributed in five libraries in three French cities. By far the most important holdings are those in the Nantes University Library, described by Mme L. Boulle. They form twothirds of the catalogue. The second largest holding is found in the Paris Bibliotheque intermediaire de Medecine (Mme J. Samion-Contet), which represents one-sixth of the catalogue. Every document is listed, localized, and its contents are shortly described. There can be not the slightest doubt about the great importance and usefulness of this catalogue to all those interested in Laennec and the medical history of the period. All the more as it contains three excellent indices (names, subjects, chronology). The catalogue lists also a few manuscripts of his uncle and teacher Guillaume Laennec and his cousins and disciples Meriadec and Ambroise Laennec. It is introduced by Dr M. D. Grmek, whose 1967 catalogue of the Claude Bernard manuscripts served as the model for this catalogue. Erwin H. Ackerknecht Zurich