Couret, Maurice, M. D.

Couret, Maurice, M. D., Orleans Parish, Louisiana Submitted by Mike Miller Couret, Maurice, M. D., was born in New Orleans, La., Sept. 17, 1874; son of John Francis and Louise (Lamothe) Couret, both of whom were born in the Louisiana metropolis (the father in 1849), and reside there at this time.

The paternal grandfather, John B. Couret, was a native of France, and came to America when a young man. He engaged in business in New Orleans and conducted this throughout the remainder of his life, his death occurring in 1886. The maternal grandfather, Lamothe, was a native of Hayti [sic], and came from that island to the United States, locating at New Orleans, at the time the French were expelled from the land of his birth the year following Napoleon's seizure of the ruler of Hayti [sic]. He was a silversmith, especially skilled in the manufacture of spoons and forks, and articles of this description of his handiwork are still retained in the family. He conducted a jewelry store at New Orleans. One of his brothers also became a citizen of the United States and served in the Revolutionary war. John Francis Couret has been identified with the Canal-Louisiana Bank & Trust company for many years, being vice-president of that institution at the time of its recent merger with German-American bank. Maurice Couret was educated in private schools, later attending the Jesuit college at New Orleans, from which he graduated with the degree of A. B. in 1892, and in 1894 with the degree of A. M. 1892-93 he took a course in electrical engineering at Tulane university, and it was while taking this latter course that he studied at night to complete his Master of Arts course and secure that degree. In October, 1893, he began the study of medicine at Tulane university, from which he graduated in 1896 with the degree of M.D.

He at once began practice in New Orleans, devoting such time as his patients did not require to study and observation at the Charity hospital.

From the beginning of his professional career he has been a constant student of pathology and bacteriology. In 1900 he was appointed assistant pathologist at the Charity hospital, and continued in this position until February, 1913, since which time he has been acting pathologist. In 1905 Dr. Couret took post-graduate work at Harvard university, and in 1911 did post-graduate work at Berlin and Vienna. Since 1905 he has been connected with the medical department of Tulane university, first as demonstrator in pathology and bacteriology, and later, in 1909, he was made lecturer in pathology and bacteriology. In 1912 he was made assistant professor of pathology and bacteriology. In October, 1911, Dr. Couret organized and is now a director of the Laboratory of Pathology at the Hotel Dieu hospital.

He has done extensive research work with Prof. Duval, and has demonstrated, it is said, that leprosy may be transmitted through fish, and from man to monkey. The doctor has published several interesting papers on the results of his researches on leprosy. He is a member of the Orleans parish, the Louisiana State and the American Medical associations, Association of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, American Association of Pathologists and Bacteriologists, and Phi Chi Medical fraternity. In 1900 Dr. Couret was married to Miss Elda Banger, of Marinette, Wis. They have one son, John S. A.

Source: Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form, volume 3, pp. 751-752. Edited by Alcee Fortier, Lit. D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.