Many anecdotes are related of Paré to show the remarkable esteem in which he was held by public and private citizens. For instance, in October, 1552, one of the most eminent generals of Charles V laid seige to the city of Metz, and the emperor came in person to join the army. Within the walls of this beleaguered city were gathered nearly all the nobility and princes of France. The city was defended by the Duke of Guise, and the besieged soldiers were at that time suffering alike from the attacks of the enemy, the results of the siege, and the rigors of a frightful winter. The duke had established two hospitals for the soldiers, and had put into requisition the barber-surgeons of the city, giving them money with which to furnish their supplies. But these surgeons were sadly incompetent against the combination of unfavorable circumstances, consequently nearly all the wounded perished, and a horrible suspicion was roused among the soldiers that they had been poisoned. Under these circumstances the duke dispatched one of his captains to the king to say that the place could hold out for ten months, and asked at the same time for fresh medicine. The king sent for Paré, gave him money, directed him to take all the medicine he thought necessary, and furnished him a letter to Marshal St. Andre, who commanded in Verdun, and who bribed an Italian captain for fifteen hundred crowns to introduce into the besieged city the celebrated surgeon. The expedition was perilous, and Paré himself would have willingly remained in Paris. But he entered Metz on the 8th of December, at midnight, without an accident. Having passed already sixteen years in war, he was known to the chiefs and common soldiers. The day after his arrival, the duke, who knew how to strike the imagination, presented him on the ramparts to all the princes, lords, and captains, who embraced and received him with clamor. By the soldiers he was received with shouts of triumph. "We shall not die," they exclaimed; "even though wounded; Paré is among us!" From this time the defense was conducted with renewed vigor, and it has been universally conceded that to the presence of this single man the city was indebted for its salvation. The siege itself was not raised until after a terrific conflict. On the very day of Paré's arrival he began to treat the leg of one of the prominent officers, who for four days had been in charge of a charlatan, and had suffered horrible tortures. The next day he decided to trephine another, who had been struck on the head by a fragment of stone, and who had been insensible for fourteen days. Both patients recovered.
[Original]
The little brotherhood of surgeons of St. Come were ready to seize on every circumstance which might redound to their advantage, and desired to have within their ranks the man who enjoyed such great renown. They, therefore, admitted him to an examination, in spite of the statute which required that the candidate should understand Latin, and in spite of opposition by the professors of the university. They not only admitted him to all their degrees, but awarded him a reception,—a hitherto unknown honor.
Description of Fig. 17.—A, the instrument named, on account
of its figure, lizard's beak; in Latin, "rostrum lacerti."
It is used to extract balls which have been flattened or
imbedded in bone. A displays particularly the cannula. B,
hinge, by means of which the lizard's beak is opened and
closed as much or as little as the surgeon wishes. C, the
rod which opens and closes the lizard's beak. When drawn
upon it closes and when pushed it opens the instrument. D,
dilator and mirror: in Latin, "dilatatorium,
speculum." The instrument is somewhat roughened and
dentated in order to take a firm hold of whatever it grasps.
It may serve two purposes: first, to dilate and enlarge the
wound so that it may be seen to the bottom, and also to make
way for some instrument, as pincers or crow's beak, and to
grasp more easily and withdraw the foreign body; secondly,
it may itself serve to extract the foreign body,—e.g., a,
double-headed ball; b, a small chain; c, c, some pieces of
mail. E, E, crane's beak; in Latin, "rostrum gruinum." H2,
H, duck's beak; in Latin, "rostrum arserinum." K, sound. L,
ball-extraetor without cannula. M, cannula with handle.
