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Pharmacist Kit Owned By Doctor Jean Alexander Francois LeMat of New Orleans

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:4,000.00 USD Estimated At:NA
Pharmacist Kit Owned By Doctor Jean Alexander Francois LeMat of New Orleans
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Estimate: $10000 - 20000
Born in France on April 21, 1821, young Francois Alexandre LeMat studied for the priesthood in a small seminary in Brodeaux. He left the seminary to enter the hospital of Saint Andre as a student doctor. He completed his studies in 1840 and took his Hippocratic oath at the medical facility of medicine in Montpellier and then took a position as a surgeon and assistant medical officer at the military hospital in Bordeaux. He resigned in November, 1843 and at the age of 22 came to the U.S. to study endemic diseases in New Orleans. He married Justine Sophie LePretre in April 1849. Through the marriage he became a cousin to Major Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard Beauregard helped LeMat with his revolver development by putting up some money. He also may have encouraged some of LeMat's later patented ideas for ship salvage and harbor improvements, and was probably helpful in obtaining the orders for the LeMat Grapeshot Revolver when the Confederate Government was formed in Montgomery Alabama in 1861. After obtaining his license to practice medicine from the New Orleans Medical Committee he became the head doctor at the Holy Family Hospital and at the same time opened a private practice treating wealthy society patients. LeMat also created a number of medical instruments, perhaps the most important being the tracheal speculum, an instrument used for spreading and opening the trachea. He was awarded a medal for that invention at the London International Exhibition of 1862. In addition to medical instruments LeMat patented a number of ideas including a system to "improve the floating capacity of all vessels", on board pontoons, numerous firearms and artillery inventions, besides the LeMat Grapeshot Revolver which he is probably more famous for. He managed a factory that produced incendiary and flare bombs for the Confederacy until the Civil War was over. He moved back to France permanently in 1868. In 1870, during the Fanco-Prussian War he proposed an entrenched camp system to the French National Defense Department and also formed a legion of American volunteers and fought with them at the battle of Sedan in 1870. After the Franco-Prussian War he was chosen by the French Government to negotiate with General Cluseret during the French insurrection of 1871. To end his life he took an active part in scientific, political and military events of his time and country. Colonel LeMat died in the 13th Century Abbey of the Dames Cordelieres on July 28, 1895 at the age of 74. This pharmacy kit was presented to LeMat in New Orleans. The wooden box has a hinged lid with a brass plaque nicely set into the lid that reads "DOCTOR / JEAN ALEXANDRE FRANCOIS / LEMAT / NEW ORLEANS". The plaque is actually a folding handle as well, which lies flush when not in use. The upper level of the box has 12 compartments, each containing a glass bottle. All but one of the bottles are labeled. 5 contain or contained a powder, the remaining bottles contained or contain liquid. The labels are marked in French and the bottles include extract of saturn, ether, sulfur potassium, arnica dye, glycerine, alcohol and opium. Most have the contents, some are empty, such as the opium and unmarked bottle. All of the containers appear to have had the lids sealed shut. The lower level of the box has a slide out drawer containing 6 boxes of powders, again labeled in French. Each box has a number of individual envelopes. They include tarter, rhubarb, plaster and nitrate. There is also a small corked glass vial containing an unknown substance. Each compartment is locking, and the kit comes with a key with a maroon tassel attached to it.
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Condition: Overall the kit as a whole is very fine. Most of the original varnish remains on the box, which shows a few minor dents on the exterior. All of the bottles are very good with labels intact on all but one, and all are readable. 5 of the bottle lids/stops have been changed, which would suggest actual field use. The six boxes in the lower drawer are near excellent with some flaking of the labels on three of them. An extremely interesting piece once owed by Colonel LeMat who was more well known for his LeMat Grapeshot Revolver than his medical skills.