Martel, Francis

, a French surgeon under Henry IV. in whose service he was employed about 1590, attended that prince in the wars of Dauphiny, Savoy, Languedoc, and Normandy; and at Mothe-Frelon saved his life by bleeding him judiciously, in a fever brought on by fatigue. In consequence of this, he gained the full confidence of the king, and was made his chief surgeon. He was the author of a work entitled “L‘Apologie pour les Chirurgiens, centre ceux qui publient qu’ils ne doivent se meler de remettre les os rompus et demis.” He wrote also, “Paradoxes on the practice of Surgery,” in which some modern improvements are anticipated. His works are printed, with the surgery of Philip de Flesselle, at Paris, in 1635, 12mo. ²