The former Widow Alexandre chalet

Several diphtheria epidemics were to wreak havoc in the 19th century throughout Europe and particularly in Rouen: 300 deaths during the 1882-1883 epidemic. Then, in 1893, 81 children out of the 172 hospitalized in the diphtheria chalet died, as did the intern who was treating them. Faced with these tragic events, the Journal de Rouen launched a subscription for the construction of a new building to cope with the influx of patients and the new rules of hygiene and isolation that were now imposed. Among the most generous donors: Madame Alexandre, widow of a rich industrialist, whose name will be given to this new pavilion.

“ Mother’s Terror" croup, or diphtheria, is an angina with false membranes leading to obstruction of the larynx (requiring a tracheotomy to prevent suffocation) and paralysis of the eyes or limbs. The appalling infant mortality rate, and the repetition of epidemics of infectious diseases, including diphtheria, led to the compulsory declaration of contagious diseases (law of November 30, 1892).

In order to fight this scourge, science, and in particular microbiology, made great strides during the last quarter of the 19th century: discovery of the diphtheria bacillus by Théodore Klebs and Friedrich Loeffler in 1883-84, improvement of the anti diphtheria serum by Emile Roux who worked at the Pasteur Institute inaugurated in 1888. The injection of this serum will reduce mortality from 73 to 14%. Charles Nicolle, who was a student of Emile Roux and Louis Pasteur, will perfect its manufacture in Rouen and it will be made available free of charge to patients from January 1895. Finally, the vaccination by toxoid (a toxin attenuated by heat and formaldehyde) was finalized by Gaston Ramon in 1923. Its effectiveness, its generalization and the compulsory vaccination will make the disease disappear.

In 1895, the construction of the new diphtheria pavilion begins, based on the indications of Doctor Emile Ballay and the plans of architect Lucien Lefort, which will make it possible to meet the new recommendations for isolation and disinfection, with 20 private rooms. After the treatment of infectious diseases at the Louis Martin Pavilion (PLM) in 1935, the diphtheria pavilion will be occupied by the ophthalmology specialty. Then, thanks to Professor Louise Delègue, the pavilion will be rehabilitated in 1970 to accommodate the anaesthesiology department, which still had no premises, and the first surgical intensive care unit, with about ten beds perfectly equipped for the development of this new specialty before their transfer to the new Félix Dévé building in 1975.

The widow Alexandre Pavilion will be destroyed to build the Martainville Pavilion opened in 1982