I came to my Lodging at M. Fargeons maistre Apothecaire[1] vis a vis Ch. Bl[2] the 18 January 1664 à Montpellier
Here at Montpellier They carry out their dung with their Coach horses harnessed -
Castelnau d’ arry.[3]
M. told me upon discovery that I was a P[rotestant]. il y a des honetes gens de toutes Rel. et des toutes nations[4]
M. de Castres Governeur[5]
[1] As typical to medical students at the time, Lister lodged with an apothecary, one Monsieur Jean Fargeon, to learn by informal instruction the names and preparations of particular drugs. These informal observations would be in addition to the more structured and theoretical education he would receive in lectures, as the study of the chemical and botanical pharmacopoeia and the study of medicine were inseparable at this time.
[2]Cheval Blanc. The Fargeon’s shop was on the nearby Grand Rue (now the Grand Rue Jean Moulin), across from the Traverse des Grenadiers.
[3] The commune Castelnaudary in the Aude, Languedoc, which comes from the Occitan Castèlnòu d’Arri. Lister probably travelled through it on the way to Montpellier as it is midway between Villefranche-de-Lauragais and Carcassone.
[4] ‘There are honest men of all religions in all nations’.
[5] René-Gaspard, the Marquis de Castries, the lieutenant-general and governor of Montpellier.
