FRENCH M.1872 MEDICAL OFFICER’S SWORD

Brass hilt with folding side guard (in good order) and caduceus and snake in an oak wreath badge to the right guard. Fine wire wrapped grip. 30 3/4" diamond section blade, double fullered at the forte. The root with cursive maker’s inscription on both sides.  Iron scabbard is excellent with remnants of plating at the mounts. Following its defeat in the Franco-Prussian War in 1871, France suffered civil rebellion and a breakdown of loyalty of the military. From there, she grew in strength, partially through exerting force against foreign powers in her colonies, until, within a few decades, she was again, one of the most powerful nations in Europe. The restructuring and growth of the military, under which this sword served were instruments of that growth.