Democratic Sentinel, Volume 3, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 February 1880 — A Young Doctor Sacrificing His Life for Others. [ARTICLE]

A Young Doctor Sacrificing His Life for Others.

George Herbelin, 28 years old, was house surgeon at the Hospital of Sainte Eugenie in Paris, where croup and diphtheria were raging. M. Herbelin’s devotion to his young charges was the subject of much remark among the visiting physicians, and the sisters connected with the hospital. While at the bedside of two children suffering from diphtheria, symptoms of the disease were noticed in himself by another medical man, who insisted upon young M. Herbelin going home. He did so, and died in a few days. While M. Herbelin was on his deathbed, the circumstances were related to M. Grevy, who had an interview with Gen. Yinoy, Grand Chancellor of the Legion of Honor, at whose instance the cross of the order was awarded to tho young surgeon. It was taken to the dying man, who, overjoyed at the news, exclaimed :

“I am decorated 1 I wish to live—l will live. Care me, my friends! ” He sank upon his bed exhausted, and died clasping the ribbon attached to the cross. The Hospital of Sainte Eugenie was founded by the Empress Eugenie under circumstances of a peculiar character. The Municipality of Paris had voted the sum of 60b,000 francs to be spent in the purchase of a diamond necklace as a wedding present to the Empress in 1853. The money was preferred to the diamonds, and was devoted to the foundation of this hospital for children, since become so famous. M. Lepere, Minister of the Interior, M. Herold, the Prefect of the Seine, several Municipal Councilors, and a number of leading physicians and medical students attended M. Herbelin’s funeral. A detachment of infantry rendered him military honors. Stveral speeches by professors of the faculty were made over his grave. Deceased’s father, who was a doctor, lost his life in the same way.