Martin, Généviève (1716-1759)

Collection of original MSS. printed tracts, documents, and letters, relating to the case of Généviève Martin of Saint Geosmes: including holograph reports by Dr. Jean François Clément Morand [1726-1784], who made an investigation of the affair in 1753, and detected imposture based on hysteria. Vol. I (1)* Morand (J. F. C.). éclaircissement abrégé sur la maladie d'une fille de St. Geosmes, à laquelle depuis 8 ans, on a fait 8 extractions de pierres de la vessie, et qui en jette par la bouche, et par la voye des urines. Langres: E. Bonnin. 1754. (1 bl. l. + 8 pp. + 1 l. 4to. 23 1/2 × 18 cm.). With a holograph note by the author on the last leaf, giving a list of publications relating to the 'Jugement' of the Faculté de Médecine of Paris in 1753. (2) Original MS. Procès-verbal, dated 16 Oct. 1753, concerning a collection of stones alleged to have come from the body of G. Martin, and now deposited at Langres Seminary (4 ll. 4to. 21 × 16 1/2 cm.). Signed by Forgeot and Garnier, surgeons of Langres, and by Bissez, Charles and Diez, physicians of Langres. 'Le tout revêtu, du sceau de Mgr. l'evêque de Langres', with two impressions in red wax. Signed also on the verso of the first leaf by the Abbé Never, Grand Vicaire of the Archidiocèse de l'église de Langres, and by the Abbé Arnould, Chanoine. (3)* Morand (J. F. C.). Excerpt from 'Recueil pour servir d'éclaircissement détaillé sur la maladie de la fille d'un tireur de pierres ...' Paris. 1754 (pp. 29-40) 12mo. 18 × 11 cm. An incomplete report addressed to M. Bagard, Président du Collège Royal des Médecins de Nancy. (4)* [Hugony (J.)?] Défense de Généviève Martin, fille de Saint Geômes, contre un écrit qui ne se trouve qu'à Paris, quoiqu'imprimé à Langres, sous le nom de M. Morand, Docteur Régent de la Faculté de Médecine de Paris, et d'un Jugement de la même Faculté, dans laquelle cette fille est accusée de s'être introduit des pierres que depuis 9 ans elle a vomis avec les urines ... Neufchâteau. Monnoyer 1754. (12 pp. 4to. 23 1/2 × 18 cm.). (5) Certified true copy of the Procès-verbal de l'autopsie de Généviève Martin (2 ll. 4to. 23 1/2 × 18 cm.). The autopsy by Mauclerc, Oubert, Jean, and Mutel, all surgeons of Langres, on 8 Jan. 1759. This document was authenticated on March 15 and 17, 1759. (6) Charles ( ) A.l.s. dated 2 April, 1754 from Langres, to Morand, referring to Hugony's pamphlet (2 pp. 4to. 21 1/2 × 17 cm.). (7) Chatoillenot ( ) A.l.s. dated 28 March, 1754 from Langres to Morand [?] on the same subject (2 pp. 4to. 21 1/2 × 18 cm.). (8) A.l.s. dated 6 April, 1754 to the same, on the same subject. Only a fragment of the second leaf remains (3 pp. 4to. 21 1/2 × 17 1/2 cm.). Vol. II (1) Morand (J. F. C.). Histoire de la maladie de Génévie Martin, fille de Jacques Martin, tireur de pierres à St. Geômes au diocèse de Langres ... (6 ll. 4to. 21 × 16 1/2 cm.). Author's holograph MS. It is undated, but was written before the death of Généviéve in 1759. (2) Viard, Abbé. A.l.s. to Abbé Dufau of Langres, dated from Langres 7 Nov. 1753 (3 pp. 4to. 21 1/2 × 17 cm.). In this letter the genuineness of the woman's malady is defended: it is sealed with the Episcopal seal in red wax (defective). (3) Hugot, Priest at Langres. A.l.s. dated 6 Dec. 1753, to Morand asking for medicine to relieve Généviève who is suffering from suppression of menses: he believes that her illness is genuine. (3 pp. 4to. 22 × 17 1/2 cm.). (4) [Hugony (J.)?] Holograph draft unfinished, dated Paris 10 dec., 1753 to Morand of a letter in defence of Généviève (4 pp. 4to. 21 × 16 cm.). (5) Hugot. A.l.s. dated St. Geômes 13 Oct., 1753 to Morand stating that the woman has consented to let Morand use a sound (3 pp. 4to. 21 1/2 × 17 cm.). (6) Bissez. A.l.s. dated Langres 26 Feb. 1759 to Morand giving an account of the case (6 pp. 4to. 21 × 17 cm.). (7) Copy of a letter from the Bishop of Langres, dated from there 27 April, 1753 'communique' à l'Assemblée du Prima Mensis, le 2 May', referring to the coming visit of Généviève to Paris, and asking what news should be sent to his Grand Vicaire, Abbé Nevet, in view of his own absence (1 p. 4to. 21 × 17 cm.). (8) Morand (J. F. C.). Mémoire instructif pour l'avoeu qu'il est question de tirer de la fille de St. Geômes. Author's holograph MS. signed at Mussy 24 Oct. 1753. (9 ll. 4to. 21 1/2 × 16 cm.) (9) Earlier copy, dated 9 Oct. 1753, but signed by the same witnesses, of the Procès-verbal [cf. Vol. I (2)]. This copy is also signed by Morand: there are no episcopal seals (2 ll. folio. 32 × 23 cm.). (10) Morand (J. F. C.). Holograph account of the 'Visites et informations faites dans la maison de St. Geômes' between 26 Sept. and 28 Oct., 1753: with the Interrogatories of Généviève herself, her sisters, and other relations; also the statements of the two surgeons Garnier and Forgeot with their signatures (54 ll. 4to. 21 1/2 × 16 cm.).

1753-1759

1 volume 2 vols. in 1. v.s. In pamphlet-box: Vol. I in original boards, Vol. II binding broken up. Items marked * are printed.

Purchased 1932.

Jacques Hugony who is referred to as deceased in the 'Journal de Médecine', Vol. X, 1759 is only the nominal author of the 'Defense' (No. I.4.), and of the 'Lettres ... à un de ses amis' 1754 in J. F. C. Morand's 'Recueil' No. 2 [MS. 3626]. He is described as illiterate, both by Chatoillenot in No. I(7) of the present MS. and in No. 7 of Morand's work [Philip. 'Lettre']. Hence it is more probable that No. II(4) of the present MS, ascribed doubtfully to Hugony, is actually by Morand and addressed to the Abbé Hugot in reply to the preceding letter by him No. II(3). I am obliged to Mr. Symons of the Wellcome Library for this information and suggestions. This collection contains a full account of the case which aroused great interest in medical and other circles throughout France, in the middle of the 18th century. This peasant woman underwent no less than twenty operations for lithotomy, and claimed that she ejected stones of various sizes from the urethra, anus, and by the mouth. The fraudulent and hysterical nature of her affection was proved by Dr. Morand, who discovered that the stones allegedly ejected corresponded exactly with those found in a nearby quarry, and that, in any case, they were entirely mineral. This opinion was officially confirmed by the Faculté de Médecine of Paris on 18 Oct. 1753: the post-mortem examination in 1759 proved decisively that the stones, etc. had been artificially introduced into the body while the patient was alive.

Database description transcribed from S.A.J. Moorat, Catalogue of Western Manuscripts on Medicine and Science in the Wellcome Historical Medical Library (London: Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine, 1962-1973).