“To illustrate and increase Chyrurgerie”: Ambroise Paré (1510-1590)

The quincentenary of Ambroise Paré's birth celebrates a man who rose from a humble origin to become the leading surgeon of the Renaissance. Now remembered as a celebrated war surgeon, especially for his gentle treatment of gunshot wounds, it is generally forgotten that Paré also treated children and wrote about them. Despite his little schooling, Paré was appointed as the Head of the French College of Surgeons in 1567. Paré's contributions to child health include conservative management of childhood deformities, such as clubfoot and scoliosis. He also gave descriptions of conjoined twins and intersex. Paré managed childhood trauma and bladder stones using devices that he invented. This article will briefly demonstrate Paré's wide-ranging contribution to pediatric surgery, adding new insights and material to earlier work.