 He studied medicine at the University of Paris under Jean-Étienne Dominique Esquirol (1772–1840), and while a student worked as an intern at the Charenton mental institution.In 1840 he accepted a position at the Salpêtrière, and soon after became director of a "maison de santé" in Ivry-sur-Seine.Among his assistants at Ivry was Louis-Victor Marcé (1828-1864).