Étienne Stéphane Tarnier

He studied and practiced medicine in Paris, and is often considered as doyen of French obstetrics during the second half of the nineteenth century.

Some of his better-known assistants were obstetricians Pierre-Constant Budin (1846–1907), Paul Bar (1853–1945), Alfred Auvard (1855–1941) and Adolphe Pinard (1844–1934).

[1] Tarnier is remembered for his work involving the perinatal aspects of obstetrics, and in particular, the treatment and well-being of premature infants.

These devices were basically wooden boxes with glass lids and compartments that contained hot-water bottles.

He called his "baby-warming device" a "couveuse",[1] and through it Tarnier was responsible for a 28% decrease in infant mortality over a three-year period at the Paris Maternité.