René-Théophile LAENNEC (1781-1826). L.A.S., Paris 27 germinal XI (April 17, 1803), to his father; 4pages in-4, filled with dense handwriting. Beautiful, long letter from the young and already brilliant medical student to his father. First, he discusses his financial problems. He explains to his father why he has asked for 300fr, explaining in great detail the accounts: he has had to lend Michaud money, for housing, clothing, equipment, etc.; he has had moving expenses, food, postage for letters, rent, etc.; he also needs a hat, which he will have to pay for himself. He also needs a hat, stocking shoes and a suit... He hopes, however, that in a few months he will no longer be dependent on Michaud: "after I defend my thesis, I will not lack [...] the means of existence". He has recently been offered "a more honorable position [...] it didn't matter that I had been appointed". He begs him not to tell anyone... He is soon to send him "a collection of all the memoirs I have inserted in the Journal de médecine", in which, with the exception of a corpse opening with M. Tonnelier, he has no knowledge of the subject. Tonnelier, he spoke only of new discoveries, including: "1° The description of a particular feature of the face by which one can recognize at first glance that a patient is attacked by an affection of the lower abdomen [...] 2° An anatomical proof of the existence of the arachnoid (membrane) in the ventricles of the brain, an idea put forward by Bichat who had been unable to demonstrate it with a scalpel. [...] 3° my membranes of the liver, of the lung"... From now on, he will always send her "a copy of each piece I make". He pays his respects to his mother, and tries to dissuade his lawyer father from taking on too many lawsuits: "If you won them, it would be worth a quarter of the trouble you take and the sorrows you live with. Do we need to be rich to spend a few days working on the land? Soon my brother and I will be able to support ourselves. [...] Haven't you worked hard enough, haven't you reached the time to rest a little"...