LEGRAND DU SAULLE (Henri). - Lot 181

LEGRAND DU SAULLE (Henri). Dijon, 1830–1886. French psychiatrist. Autograph letter signed “Legrand du Saulle,” addressed to Mr. Mermet. Clamart, August 23, 1876. 1 page, in-8. A charming, informal letter in which Legrand du Saulle invites his correspondent and his family to spend a day at his home. The tone, cheerful and spontaneous, opens with a colorful remark—“I’m starting to get rid of the workers!”—which gives the whole letter a very lively feel. The doctor provides precise details on the route to take to reach his home from the Montparnasse train station, describing in turn the train, the omnibus, and then a few minutes’ walk, before concluding with a friendly note: “If it’s hot, we’ll have dinner outdoors.” A leading figure in 19th-century French psychiatry, Legrand du Saulle served notably as chief physician of the epilepsy ward at the Salpêtrière Hospital, where he conducted notable research on personality disorders and nervous conditions. A charming document that offers a glimpse into the private, everyday life of a great physician, set against a backdrop of friendship and family.