[Claude Perrault, famous architect, unknown physician, untiring researcher]

As a famous architect Charles Perrault persuaded Colbert to appoint a committee of the "Bâtiments du Roi" made up of three persons: Le Vau, Le Brun and one of his brothers Claude whose Louis XIV chose the plan. While Le Vau was busy in Versailles Perrault's influence became dominating. Although he was an unknown medical practitioner he managed to be allowed to practise and to teach medicine and to be a member of theses' jury for twenty five years. He was highly regarded by his colleagues who did not hesitate to hold a consultation. His trip in Bordeaux was consecrated to look after his brother but because of his numerous occupations he gave up practising medicine and he only treated the members of his family, his friends and some poor. He was a tireless researcher and at the "Académie des Sciences" he looked after the "Histoire naturelle des animaux" (Natural History of the Animals). In "Les Essais de Physique" he tackled numerous problems of physiology such as elasticity and contractility of arteries, studied the sense organs and did some experiments about blood transfusion. As an exceptional man he could practise the three of the occupations.