Curing neonatal jaundice with ‘language of friendship and rays of hope’ in the 18th century

Abstract

Abstract Neonatal jaundice was a topic of significant interest in French medical literature during the 18(th) and 19(th) centuries, particularly for students writing graduation theses (1-9). These publications provide a fascinating insight into how doctors worked and thought during this period. In light of new knowledge some case histories may tentatively be assigned a diagnosis. In 1817 Louis Sylvestre Beraud defended his graduation thesis Observation sur l'ictere (Observations on congenital jaundice) at the University of Montpellier, France (10) (Fig. 1). He was 47 years old at the time of his graduation from medical school, but as a former naval and army surgeon and thus an already experienced physician. This career path was not unusual in 18-19(th) century French medicine (11). © 2012 The Author(s)/Acta Paediatrica © 2012 Foundation Acta Paediatrica.