LAENNEC RENE: (1781-1826)

LAENNEC RENE: (1781-1826) French physician who invented the stethoscope in 1816 and pioneered its use in diagnosing various chest conditions. A rare A.L.S., Laennec, two pages, small 4to, n.p., 12th January 1811, to his father ('Mon cher papa'), in French. Laennec acknowledges that he has received his father's latest letter and box, declaring 'Je vous fais mille remerciements, vous ne pouviez me faire un present plus agreable que celui la' (Translation: 'I give you a thousand thanks, you could not give me a more pleasant present than this one'), further adding that he will have a crucifix repaired and remarking 'Cela serait deja fait sans les occupations et les embarras ou je me trouve depuis trois semaines et qui m'ont empeche egalement de vous offrir plutot les voeux que je fais pour que cette nouvelle annee soit plus heureuse pour vous et par conseequent pour nous tous que celle qui vient de s'ecouler' (Translation: 'This would already have been done without the occupations and the discomfitures in which I have been for three weeks and which have also prevented me from offering you the wishes that I am making so that this New Year will be more happy for you and consequently for all of us than the one that has just passed'), and continuing to write 'Le principal de ces embarras est le depart prochain du Cardinal pour Rennes. Il m'a propose de m'emmener avec lui jusques la. Ce projet me plait beaucoup. Je serais fort aise d'aller voir un peu s'il n'y a pas moyen de faire finir promptement l'etat de gene dans lequel je me trouve et qui m'empeche de faire mes voeux ce que je desirerais. Mais mille raisons trop longues a deduire me retiennent ici. La plus forte est la difficulte d'arracher a ceux qui me doivent de quoi faire ce voyage. Si je puis lever celle la, je romprai toutes les autres entraves. Ainsi il n'est pas impossible que j'aye sous peu le plaisir de vous embrasser. Je vous embrasse dans cette esperance et je finis promptement: car quoique je ne sache encore pas si je partirai, je fais toutes mes dispositions comme si j'en etais sur et je n'ai pas de temps a perdre.' (Translation: 'The principal of these discomfitures is the imminent departure of the Cardinal for Rennes. He offered to take me with him there….I would be very happy to go and see if there is not a way of quickly ending the state of embarrassment in which I find myself and which prevent me from fulfilling the wishes that I would like. But a thousand reasons too long to deduce keep me here. The strongest is the difficulty of snatching from those who owe me money to make this trip. If I can lift this one, I will break all the other shackles. So it is not impossible that I will shortly have the pleasure of kissing you. I embrace you in this hope….for although I do not yet know if I will leave, I am making all my arrangements as if I were sure of it and I have no time to lose'). With address panel in Laennec's hand. Autograph letters of Laennec are rare as a result of his untimely death from tuberculosis at the age of 45. A couple of very light, small circular stains (caused by the original seal) only very slightly affecting a few words of text which remain perfectly legible, otherwise VG Laennec was intensely religious and was a devout Catholic all of his life, and has been described as a sincere Christian who adhered to his religion and was a man of the greatest probity, habitually observant of his religious and social duties; all qualities which are illustrated in the present letter.