Isn’t it remarkable how a street can echo a life of service? We are standing on Rue Henri Feulard. This street in Paris’s 10th arrondissement is more than just a passage. It’s a memorial. It honors a doctor who gave his life for others.
Rue Henri Feulard is located in the Hôpital-Saint-Louis neighborhood. The street begins at 25 Rue de Sambre-et-Meuse. It ends at 45 Boulevard de la Villette. The street is a continuation of Rue Jean-et-Marie-Moinon. You can reach it via the Colonel Fabien and Belleville metro stations.
Henri Feulard was a dermatologist at Hôpital Saint-Louis. He was a victim of his own dedication. He died in the Bazar de la Charité fire on May 4, 1897.
Let’s step back in time a bit. From 1877 to 1899, Rue Henri-Feulard and Rue Jean-et-Marie-Moinon were one street. It was called Rue de Loos. Loos is a town in northern France. There, an abbey was turned into a prison. Before being Rue de Loos, it was Passage Saint-Louis du Temple.
On August 2, 1899, Rue de Loos was divided. The section between Rue de Sambre-et-Meuse and Boulevard de la Villette became Rue Henri-Feulard. The remaining Rue de Loos was renamed Rue Jean-Moinon on June 8, 1946. Later, on March 10, 2012, it was renamed Rue Jean-et-Marie-Moinon.
Henri Feulard was born in Paris on May 20, 1858. He interned at Hôpital Saint-Louis. This hospital was known for dermatology and venereology. In 1886, he became Chief of Clinic under Professor Jean Alfred Fournier. He helped start the dermatological library at the hospital. In 1890, he became the librarian. The library was later named Bibliothèque Henri-Feulard.
Feulard organized the first International Congress of Dermatology in Paris in 1889. He also attended the second and third congresses. He wrote a lot about dermatology. He became editor-in-chief of Annales de Dermatologie et de Syphiligraphie in 1890. From 1892, Feulard worked at the Prison Saint-Lazare. He did monthly medical inspections of prostitutes there.
Now, imagine the tragic scene at the Bazar de la Charité. Henri Feulard was there with his wife, daughter, and maid. A fire broke out. The family was separated. Feulard went back inside to save his daughter. Both he and his daughter died. The maid also perished. His wife survived but was burned.
Henri Feulard and his daughter are buried together in Montmartre Cemetery. The funeral service was held in Notre-Dame-de-Lorette. In 1946, this street was named Rue Henri Feulard. It serves as a reminder of his life and sacrifice.
So, as we stand here on Rue Henri Feulard, remember the doctor. Remember his dedication to medicine. Remember his ultimate sacrifice. This street is a small but significant tribute to a life well-lived.