L’anthropométrie au service du renforcement de la nation française : le cas de la promotion de la gymnastique par la médecine scolaire et militaire (fin xixe-début xxe siècle)
Based on the study of the works of two doctors who promoted school gymnastics, Louis Dufestel and Paul Godin, this article suggests that in terms of male health standards, the public health issue of combating tuberculosis intertwines with an ideology of perfecting bodies and the development of morph...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Presses universitaires du Midi
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Histoire, Médecine et Santé |
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| Online Access: | https://journals.openedition.org/hms/10039 |
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| author | Elsie Mégret |
| author_facet | Elsie Mégret |
| author_sort | Elsie Mégret |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Based on the study of the works of two doctors who promoted school gymnastics, Louis Dufestel and Paul Godin, this article suggests that in terms of male health standards, the public health issue of combating tuberculosis intertwines with an ideology of perfecting bodies and the development of morphological criteria for conscription eligibility. It relies on historical literature from the late 19th and early 20th centuries concerning anthropometric practices and the strengthening of French youth, focusing particularly on chest measurement. After clarifying the role of anthropometry within school and military medicine, the article analyzes school gymnastics as a “corrective” practice that, supported by anthropometry, aims to prevent tuberculosis and strengthen the French nation. It then demonstrates how the measurement of the morphological correction induced by gymnastics is tailored for boys according to both physical and moral criteria for conscript selection. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-33003d4e8f134ad284bc3c6d5d0b341f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2263-8911 2557-2113 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Presses universitaires du Midi |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Histoire, Médecine et Santé |
| spelling | doaj-art-33003d4e8f134ad284bc3c6d5d0b341f2025-08-20T04:02:09ZengPresses universitaires du MidiHistoire, Médecine et Santé2263-89112557-21132025-06-012711713410.4000/1479tL’anthropométrie au service du renforcement de la nation française : le cas de la promotion de la gymnastique par la médecine scolaire et militaire (fin xixe-début xxe siècle)Elsie MégretBased on the study of the works of two doctors who promoted school gymnastics, Louis Dufestel and Paul Godin, this article suggests that in terms of male health standards, the public health issue of combating tuberculosis intertwines with an ideology of perfecting bodies and the development of morphological criteria for conscription eligibility. It relies on historical literature from the late 19th and early 20th centuries concerning anthropometric practices and the strengthening of French youth, focusing particularly on chest measurement. After clarifying the role of anthropometry within school and military medicine, the article analyzes school gymnastics as a “corrective” practice that, supported by anthropometry, aims to prevent tuberculosis and strengthen the French nation. It then demonstrates how the measurement of the morphological correction induced by gymnastics is tailored for boys according to both physical and moral criteria for conscript selection.https://journals.openedition.org/hms/10039military medicineanthropometryschool gymnasticsschool medicinemale bodies |
| spellingShingle | Elsie Mégret L’anthropométrie au service du renforcement de la nation française : le cas de la promotion de la gymnastique par la médecine scolaire et militaire (fin xixe-début xxe siècle) Histoire, Médecine et Santé military medicine anthropometry school gymnastics school medicine male bodies |
| title | L’anthropométrie au service du renforcement de la nation française : le cas de la promotion de la gymnastique par la médecine scolaire et militaire (fin xixe-début xxe siècle) |
| title_full | L’anthropométrie au service du renforcement de la nation française : le cas de la promotion de la gymnastique par la médecine scolaire et militaire (fin xixe-début xxe siècle) |
| title_fullStr | L’anthropométrie au service du renforcement de la nation française : le cas de la promotion de la gymnastique par la médecine scolaire et militaire (fin xixe-début xxe siècle) |
| title_full_unstemmed | L’anthropométrie au service du renforcement de la nation française : le cas de la promotion de la gymnastique par la médecine scolaire et militaire (fin xixe-début xxe siècle) |
| title_short | L’anthropométrie au service du renforcement de la nation française : le cas de la promotion de la gymnastique par la médecine scolaire et militaire (fin xixe-début xxe siècle) |
| title_sort | l anthropometrie au service du renforcement de la nation francaise le cas de la promotion de la gymnastique par la medecine scolaire et militaire fin xixe debut xxe siecle |
| topic | military medicine anthropometry school gymnastics school medicine male bodies |
| url | https://journals.openedition.org/hms/10039 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT elsiemegret lanthropometrieauservicedurenforcementdelanationfrancaiselecasdelapromotiondelagymnastiqueparlamedecinescolaireetmilitairefinxixedebutxxesiecle |