Medical reforms under the First Empirees
Seance of wednesday 18 february 2026 (Napoléon et les chirurgiens)
DOI number : 10.26299/pn3c-8k58/emem.2026.08.09
Abstract
During his reign, Napoleon inspired unparalleled emulation within French society. He reformed the country extensively and was responsible for the creation of numerous infrastructures that still exist today: the Civil Code, high schools and universities, prefects, the Legion of Honor, the baccalaureate, the Bank of France, the future Paris Stock Exchange, garbage collection, street numbering, the Arc de Triomphe, etc. All of these things have become essential institutions today.
For its part, is medicine being left behind? Certainly not. From 1798 and the Egyptian campaign, Bonaparte participated in all the medical meetings organized within the Egyptian Institute he had created. He also aroused extraordinary emulation among these doctors and surgeons. Most of them would become great names recognized for posterity. Real reforms would emerge during the Napoleonic era. What were they? Who were their initiators?
For its part, is medicine being left behind? Certainly not. From 1798 and the Egyptian campaign, Bonaparte participated in all the medical meetings organized within the Egyptian Institute he had created. He also aroused extraordinary emulation among these doctors and surgeons. Most of them would become great names recognized for posterity. Real reforms would emerge during the Napoleonic era. What were they? Who were their initiators?