Henri Arrault, précurseur de la convention de Genève, promoteur des ambulances volantes et ami de George Sand

Résumé En Fr

Henri Arrault. Born in Joigny, Arrault's family had close relationship before and during the Napoleonic period with medicine and the army. From 1825 in Paris, he owned a pharmacy shop, and created several types of first-aid boxes and devices, containing clean dressings. He acted as an official supplier for the french armies for surgery and pharmacy materials. In 1861 after the Crimean war, as he presented a new plan for improving the rescue of wounded on the battle fields, he called the French authorities upon the opportunity to ratify a specific international convention insuring the neutrality to the wounded and to the medical staff on the battle field. In 1864, Dunant succeeded in that way by creating the « Red cross », after setting up a large diplomatic arrangement. As Arrault exhibited sympathy for the republican party, the imperial regime kept him aside of any consideration. With the support of the non conformist writer George Sand, he tempted in 1865 to make his anteriority known and accepted. Therefore, a bitter dispute opened with Dunant. During the international exhibitions, he presented his materials in London 1862, Paris 1867 and Vienna 1873. As ageing, he acted as a member of the city council of Paris among the radical republicans and died in 1887.

Éduqué à Joigny dans la tradition médicale et militaire de sa parentèle, Arrault tint officine à Paris dès 1825. Il créa et développa des matériels de secours et de pansements à l'usage des armées, devenu fournisseur du gouvernement après 1830. Inventif et persévérant, il élargit son domaine, soutenu par un sentiment philanthropique attaché à la démocratie. En 1861, il proposa le texte de sa convention internationale de neutralisation des blessés et des soignants. Une querelle avec Dunant s'ensuivit dans laquelle G. Sand lui apporta un soutien important. Il fut connu comme un républicain avancé après la défaite de 1870.