Biography of 	COURET, Maurice, M. D., Orleans Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by 	Mike Miller August 1998

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Couret, Maurice, M. D., was born in New Orleans, La., Sept. 17, 1874; 
son of John Francis and Louise (Lamothe) Couret, both of whom were born 
in the Louisiana metropolis (the father in 1849), and reside there at 
this time.

The paternal grandfather, John B. Couret, was a native of France, and 
came to America when a young man.  He engaged in business in New 
Orleans and conducted this throughout the remainder of his life, his 
death occurring in 1886.  The maternal grandfather, Lamothe, was a 
native of Hayti [sic], and came from that island to the United States, 
locating at New Orleans, at the time the French were expelled from the 
land of his birth the year following Napoleon's seizure of the ruler of 
Hayti [sic].  He was a silversmith, especially skilled in the 
manufacture of spoons and forks, and articles of this description of 
his handiwork are still retained in the family.  He conducted a jewelry 
store at New Orleans.  One of his brothers also became a citizen of the 
United States and served in the Revolutionary war.  John Francis Couret 
has been identified with the Canal-Louisiana Bank & Trust company for 
many years, being vice-president of that institution at the time of its 
recent merger with German-American bank.  Maurice Couret was educated 
in private schools, later attending the Jesuit college at New Orleans, 
from which he graduated with the degree of A. B. in 1892, and in 1894 
with the degree of A. M.  1892-93 he took a course in electrical 
engineering at Tulane university, and it was while taking this latter
course that he studied at night to complete his Master of Arts course 
and secure that degree.  In October, 1893, he began the study of 
medicine at Tulane university, from which he graduated in 1896 with the 
degree of  M.D.

He at once began practice in New Orleans, devoting such time as his
patients did not require to study and observation at the Charity  
hospital.

From the beginning of his professional career he has been a constant
student of pathology and bacteriology.  In 1900 he was appointed 
assistant pathologist at the Charity hospital, and continued in this 
position until February, 1913, since which time he has been acting 
pathologist.  In 1905 Dr. Couret took post-graduate work at Harvard 
university, and in 1911 did post-graduate work at Berlin and Vienna.  
Since 1905 he has been connected with the medical department of Tulane 
university, first as demonstrator in pathology and bacteriology, and 
later, in 1909, he was made lecturer in pathology and bacteriology.  In 
1912 he was made assistant professor of pathology and bacteriology.  In 
October, 1911, Dr. Couret organized and is now a director of the 
Laboratory of Pathology at the Hotel Dieu hospital.

He has done extensive research work with Prof. Duval, and has 
demonstrated, it is said, that leprosy may be transmitted through fish, 
and from man to monkey.  The doctor has published several interesting 
papers on the results of his researches on leprosy.  He is a member of 
the Orleans parish, the Louisiana State and the American Medical 
associations, Association of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, American 
Association of Pathologists and Bacteriologists, and Phi Chi Medical 
fraternity.  In 1900 Dr. Couret was married to Miss Elda Banger, of 
Marinette, Wis.  They have one son, John S. A.

Source:  Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events,
Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form, volume 3,
pp. 751-752.  Edited by Alcee Fortier, Lit. D.  Published in 1914, by 
Century Historical Association.