A medical best-seller of the eighteenth century, Avis au peuple sur sa santé, launched the career of Samuel-Auguste Tissot, a physician whose influence stretched from his home in Lausanne to the mountains of Corsica. Born in 1728 in Grancy, this Swiss practitioner became a central figure in European medicine through his extensive clinical observations and writings.
Clinical Training and Career
Tissot received his medical education at the Faculty of Medicine of Montpellier. As a university teacher and physician, he established himself as a prominent figure in the scientific community. His professional trajectory included a tenure as a teacher at the University of Pavia between 1781 and 1783. Throughout his life, he worked primarily in Lausanne, where he held membership in the Royal Society and navigated the intellectual currents of his era.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Neurological Studies and Professional Recognition
Specializing in nervous disorders, Tissot authored the Traité des nerfs et de leurs maladies. Within this work, he devoted an 83-page chapter to the study of migraines, relying on both personal observation and existing treatises. His systematic approach to documenting patient symptoms established him as a significant authority on the subject. His work earned him notable correspondence, including a letter from Napoleon Bonaparte on 1 April 1787, which praised his dedication to treating humanity.
The Impact of L’Onanisme
In 1760, Tissot published L’Onanisme, a comprehensive treatise arguing that the loss of semen resulted in severe physical and mental decline, including reduced strength, memory loss, and various systemic disorders. The text was presented as a scientific work and drew from case studies of his male patients in Lausanne. The arguments contained within this publication shaped Western medical perceptions regarding the health risks of masturbation for the following two centuries.
Fast facts
- Born: 1728, Grancy
- Died: 1797, Lausanne
- Citizenship: Switzerland
- Educated at: Faculty of Medicine of Montpellier
- University employment: University of Pavia (1781-1783)
- Notable work: L’Onanisme
- Religion: reformed
- Languages: French
Questions readers ask
What was Tissot’s most successful book?
His most famous work during his lifetime was Avis au peuple sur sa santé, published in 1761, which is considered one of the greatest medical best-sellers of the eighteenth century.
Did Tissot contribute to the study of migraines?
Yes, he authored the Traité des nerfs et de leurs maladies, which included an 83-page chapter on migraines based on his clinical observations and existing medical texts.
Achievements
- Notable work: L’Onanisme
- Held posts at University of Pavia
