Biography of SOUCHON, Edmond, M.D., St. Landry, then Orleans Parish, Louisiana Submitted by Mike Miller September 2000 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 406-409. Edited by Alcée Fortier, Lit.D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association. Souchon, Edmond, physician and surgeon of international eminence, was born in Opelousas, St. Landry parish, La., Dec. 1, 1841. When he was yet quite young, the family moved to St. Martinville, in the same state, and there resided until Edmond had about attained his 12th year, when the parental home was changed to Mobile, Ala., and finally to New Orleans, the state of his nativity. These moves, it is explained, where due to the failing health of the head of the family, which gradually became so low, it is said, as to bring the resources of the family to a very low ebb. About this time Edmond was taken from a private school and placed in the public schools, quite probably as a measure of economy. However, something more than 2 years later, when the father's health had improved and comfort and affluence in a measure had returned to the family, young Souchon was sent to Paris, France, where he met many of the relatives of his father and mother, both of whom were French and whose families at that time as now numbered many officers of the French army. The father of Edmond, Dr. Eugene Souchon, was at that time a practicing dentist in the second district of New Orleans, and was long and well-known in the city. The paternal grandfather was one of the two grenadiers who saved the life of Gen. Napoleon Bonaparte at the siege of St. Jean d'Acre, Egypt, as is related and represented in the illustrated edition of the "Memorial de Ste. Helene.'' When young Souchon had completed his collegiate course in Paris, and had just entered upon the study of medicine in that city, news reached the French metropolis telling of the beginning of hostilities in the war of secession between the states. Monthly remittances from home soon ceased to make their welcome appearance, and the aspiring young medical student from the strife-torn American republic was left to shift for himself as best he could in the French capital. He had then reached his 19th year, and of course was far better prepared to make his own way than formerly. Nevertheless, he found the struggle for existence and the acquirement of knowledge called for the exercise of his best wits and energies, for he was determined to go on with his medical studies. This siege, as it may be termed, held him in check for 5 long years, during which time he found studying and working for a living far from affording allurements in a foreign city such as Paris, where requirements were so exacting and a livelihood so difficult to gain under conditions to which he was unaccustomed. When difficulties had multiplied to an extent that seemingly would have discouraged a young man of his years attempting to acquire a technical education in a foreign country, opportunity beckoned in the form of a competitive examination for the interneship at the hospitals of Paris, and though the ordeal to him must be severe and chance of success slight, considering his youth and limited medical knowledge and experience, he nevertheless entered the contest with avidity, and doubtless was as much surprised as pleased when, upon his first trial, he was---received fourth on a list of 350 applicants. In the course of the duties that followed the hospital interne became acquainted with the famous American surgeon, Dr. J. Marion Sims, who had arrived in Paris to demonstrate his great success in the operation for vesico-vaginal fistula. Dr. Sims was unable to speak the French language, and was greatly pleased with meeting young Souchon, who became his interpreter as well as assistant in performing that fine and delicate operation which gave him wealth and world-wide fame. The death of the elder Dr. Souchon, and consequent need for his presence in ministering to the wants of his aged mother, necessitated the return of the young doctor from Paris sooner than he had anticipated, and upon coming to New Orleans he entered the University of Louisiana, from which he graduated in 1867. Before leaving Paris he had been given a letter from Dr. Sims to Dr. T. G. Richardson, and on presentation of this Dr. Richardson received him most kindly, giving him a key to his own office that he might use it, with free access to books and instruments, until such time as the young man might be able to equip himself with these necessities of his profession. He was also invited to Dr. Richardson's table and provided with a room in Dr. Stone's hospital until his finances might be in better condition. Later, when the grateful young physician offered to acquit himself as far as money could go in such a matter, Dr. Richardson would accept no payment. For these rare benefactions Dr. Souchon always expressed the greatest appreciation. Young Dr. Souchon then became Dr. Richardson's prosector, making all dissections necessary for Dr. Richardson's lectures on anatomy. Later, too, he became Dr. Richardson's chief of clinic at the Charity hospital and also assisted in his operations in private practice. Thus for many years they were in daily contact, and from this intimate association grew the mutual and enduring friendship of these men. Dr. Souchon soon began to build, in the second district mainly, a rapidly-increasing and lucrative practice. In 1869 Dr. Souchon married Miss Corinne Lavie, allied to the old Creole families of Sebatier, Mazureau, and Grima. Three children resulted from this union, being, in order: Dr. Marion Souchon (so named for Dr. Marion Sims), Corinne, who became Mrs. Harry Homes Hodgson, and Selika. In 1872 Dr. Souchon was elected demonstrator of anatomy in the medical department of Tulane university, and in 1885 was elected professor of anatomy and of clinical surgery, in the same department, to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Dr. Samuel Logan. In 1890 the increase in Dr. Souchon's practice above Canal street, in the city of New Orleans, and the yearnings of his children, who had all been educated in American schools, induced him to move into the uptown district, where he has since owned a cozy home on the corner of St. Charles avenue and First street. Dr. Souchon served with conviction and energy on the board of administrators of the Charity hospital during the administration of Gov. Wiltz. When in 1892 Mrs. Richardson made her donation for the building and equipment of the new medical college in Canal street, now the medical department of Tulane university, Dr. Souchon was selected by Dr. and Mrs. Richardson, and by the faculty, to design the floor plans, upon which depended the whole building; to supervise the erection of the structure, and to have full charge of all the interior requirements. So well pleased was Mrs. Richardson, the Tulane special committee, and the medical faculty, with the long and unswerving effort of two years' duration for the perfection of this grand work, that the committee and faculty resolved, with the full approval of Mrs. Richardson, to place in the entrance hall the marble testimonial tablet which may be seen there bearing the following inscription: ''Erected under the supervision of Prof. Edmond Souchon, M. D., delegated by the medical faculty to design the floor plans, and to have charge of all the interior requirements." In 1898 Gov. Foster appointed Dr. Souchon president of the Louisiana state board of health. He was continued in office by Gov. Heard and by Gov. Blanchard, thus serving under 3 successive state administrations, the longest term yet filled by a president of the state board of health. Dr. Souchon retired from the chair of anatomy and clinical surgery at Tulane university in 1908 with a Carnegie pension. He had more to do than any other one man with framing the plans for the new Richardson memorial medical building, erected on the campus of the university in 1908. Dr. Souchon acquired a national reputation as a writer. He contributed numerous articles on anatomy, surgery and sanitation, in the New Orleans Medical and Surgical Journal, Journal of the American Medical Association, New York Medical Record, and New York Medical Journal. His most important writings are on Aneurisms of the Arch of the Aorta, Subclavian Aneurisms, Irreducible Dislocations of the Shoulder, Surgical Diseases and Injuries of the Neck, the Philosophic Anatomy of the Liver, A Plea for Reform in Medical and University Education, Wounds of the Large Surgical Veins, Hepatic Abscesses, Drilling of Holes Through the Skull, Diagnosis of Tumors, Reminiscences of Dr. Marion Sims and Dr. T. G. Richardson, Preservation of Anatomic Dissections, With Permanent Color of Muscles, Vessels and Organs; Sanitary Code of the Louisiana State Board of Health, and many other technical and important compositions. Dr. Souchon was the inventor of the Souchon Anesthetizer. He was at all times one of the busiest of men, but held a membership in the Boston club and served on its board of governors for 2 consecutive terms. He was president of the New Orleans Medical and Surgical association, president of the Orleans Parish Medical society, member of the Louisiana State Medical society, founding member of the Southern Surgical and Gynecological association, member and vice-president of the American Medical association, fellow and vice-president of the American Surgical association, and member of the Society of American Anatomists. After his retirement from the chair of anatomy at Tulane university, Dr. Souchon devoted his time to the building of an anatomical museum, making magnificent and unique anatomical preparations after a method elaborated by him. The board of administrators of the Tulane educational fund have call [sic] the museum the Souchon Museum of Anatomy. It is located in the Richardson memorial, on Tulane campus.