Louis Edouard Fortier, M. D

Dr. Louis Edouard Fortier, one of the most prominent of the French physicians of Montreal, was born in the city of Quebec, February 11, 1865, a son of Edouard and Celina (Marcotte) Fortier. The paternal grandfather, Louis Fortier, was a farmer and was the founder of the village of Fortierville, while his son Edouard was a merchant in the city of Quebec.

The family removed to Montreal during the Doctor’s boyhood and both parents passed away in this city. Two brothers of Dr. Fortier are still living: one, Dr. Joseph Emile, is one of the busiest medical practitioners of Montreal; the other, Joseph Auguste, a well known writer, after having traveled all around the world settled in India about fifteen years ago, and is principal and superintendent of the Agha Engineering School, in Fyzabad, Oudh.

Dr. Fortier was educated in the Jesuit College of Montreal, after which he studied medicine in Victoria University, being graduated therefrom with the degree of M. D. in the class of 1889. He was at once appointed demonstrator of anatomy at Victoria University and physician to the Hospital Hôtel-Dieu. These positions he filled in addition to attending to his private practice, which has been extensive from the beginning, and he has been regular physician to the Hôtel-Dieu since 1889. After some years devoted to active practice, he further continued the study of his profession in Paris and London, coming in touch with the work of eminent physicians and surgeons in both cities. He ranks high in hospital work and is widely recognized as a learned and able member of the profession, who is constantly promoting his knowledge through reading, research and investigation. He is also classed with the able educators and at the present time is professor of pharmacology and therapeutics in Laval University.

A scholar and a good writer, Dr. Fortier has been during many years editor of La Gazette Médicale de Montréal, the official organ of the Victoria University Medical School in Montreal before the affiliation of this school with Laval University. Since that time, besides many valuable contributions to medical reviews, Dr. Fortier published a few years ago a Handbook of Medicine for Nurses, and last year a Manual of Pharmacology,—according to the British Pharmacopœia, this last book being especially for the use of students and young practitioners.

Dr. Fortier is an active social worker and is particularly interested in the work of medical dispensaries. He is now medical director of the Institut Bruchési, founded for the treatment of tubercular patients; medical superintendent of the Sacred Heart Hospital for the Indians, at Caughnawaga; and chief director of the dispensaries of l’Assistance Maternelle, instituted to provide attendance to the sick women of the poorer classes.

Dr. Fortier married Miss Emma Mathieu of Lachenaie and to them have been born two sons, Louis Edouard and Jacques Emile. Madame Fortier belongs to one of the oldest French-Canadian families of this country and is favorably known in social as well as charitable circles of this city.