Theodor Kocher (1841-1917) and his outstanding contributions to surgery

Theodor Kocher (1841-1917), an exceptional Swiss surgeon who described a technique for the safe removal of enlarged thyroid unraveled the true function of this endocrine gland but also made significant contributions to many other fields of surgery. Kocher was the first surgeon awarded the Nobel prize in Physiology and Medicine in 1909 for his work on the physiology, pathology, and surgery of the thyroid gland. He was professor and clinical director at Insel Hospital during 45 years. Kocher created the prominent Surgeon's School in Bern. He was the first president of the International Society of Surgery in 1903 and the founding president of the Swiss Society of Surgery in 1913.

Theodor Kocher (1841-1917), excepcional cirujano suizo que describió una técnica para la extirpación segura del agrandamiento del tiroides y desentrañó la verdadera función de esta glándula endocrina, pero también hizo importantes aportaciones a muchos otros campos de la cirugía. Kocher fue el primer cirujano galardonado con el premio Nobel de Fisiología y Medicina en 1909 por sus trabajos sobre la fisiología, patología y cirugía de la glándula tiroides. Fue profesor y director clínico del Hospital Insel durante 45 años. Kocher creó la destacada Escuela de Cirujanos de Berna. Fue el primer presidente de la Sociedad Internacional de Cirugía en 1903 y el presidente fundador de la Sociedad Suiza de Cirugía en 1913.

Forgotten Poles in the history of neurology: from Flatau to Frey / Polacos olvidados en la historia de la neurología: de Flatau a Frey

Abstract With the majority of eponyms being removed from disease classification systems, it is even more difficult to remember the neurologists who influenced the development of techniques and understanding of the brain over the last centuries. Determining whether Polish researchers were given similar attention to Western equivalents based on eponymic presence in medical databases is an interesting way to provide an overview of unremembered Polish neurologists. This work aims to recognize the developments of forgotten Polish neurologists, whose work, although important, was not properly appreciated over the centuries.

Resumen Con la eliminación de la mayoría de los epónimos de los sistemas de clasificación de enfermedades, es aún más difícil recordar a los neurólogos que influyeron en el desarrollo de técnicas y comprensión del cerebro durante los últimos siglos. Determinar si los investigadores polacos recibieron una atención similar a la de los equivalentes occidentales en función de la presencia de los epónimos en las bases de datos médicos es una forma interesante de proporcionar una visión general de los neurólogos polacos no recordados. Este trabajo tiene como objetivo reconocer los desarrollos de los neurólogos polacos olvidados, cuyo trabajo, aunque importante, no fue debidamente apreciado a lo largo de los siglos.

O enfermeiro-mor nas Santas Casas da província de Minas Gerais: entre a administração e a assistência / The enfermeiro-mor (head-nurse) in Santas Casas in the province of Minas Gerais: between care and administration

Resumo Este artigo trata da percepção da enfermagem como uma ocupação de baixo prestígio no século XIX. A história da enfermagem produzida pelos profissionais da área reforçou essa concepção. No entanto, o perfil do cargo de enfermeiro-mor, presente nas Santas Casas, indica um espectro social mais amplo para a profissão de enfermagem. As autoras defendem a hipótese de que essa avaliação negativa se baseia apenas em atividades de cuidado ao paciente que eram mais visíveis. A presença do enfermeiro-mor exemplifica os limites de uma generalização da desvalorização social da enfermagem. A conclusão é que a suposição generalizada de que a enfermagem se limitava a cuidados básicos de saúde não se sustenta.

Abstract This article focuses on the perception of nursing as a low-prestige occupation in the 19th century. The history of nursing produced by professionals in the area supported this understanding. However, the profile of the enfermeiro-mor (head nurse), a position in the Santas Casas, demonstrates that the nursing profession was present throughout a broader social spectrum. The authors support the hypothesis that the typical negative assessment is based only on the more visible patient care activities. The presence of the enfermeiro-mor exemplifies the limits of a generalization of the social undervaluation of nursing. The conclusion is that the generalized assumption that nursing was only about basic health care is not acceptable.

Hipólito Unanue en Cádiz / Hipolito Unanue in Cadiz

RESUMEN La participación de Hipólito Unanue en las Cortes de Cádiz no ha sido objeto de una investigación detallada que permita conocer su actuación pública y privada durante la estancia en España. El objeto del presente artículo es hacer un primer acercamiento a este episodio poco estudiado de la vida del "padre de la medicina peruana".

ABSTRACT Hipólito Unanue's participation in the Cortes of Cádiz has not been the subject of a detailed investigation that allows to know his public and private performance during his stay in Spain. The purpose of this article is to make a first approach to this under-studied episode of the life of the "father of Peruvian medicine".

El servicio de sanidad militar en el proceso de modernización, burocratización y profesionalización del ejército argentino (1888-1938) / The military health service in the process of modernization, bureaucratization and professionalization of the Argentine Army (1888-1938)

RESUMEN Hacia fines del siglo XIX y principios del siglo XX se inició la modernización, burocratización y profesionalización del Ejército Argentino. Como resultado de ese proceso se conformaron las divisiones del Ejército, esto es, organizaciones militares autónomas entre sí, compuestas por unidades de diferentes armas, elementos de apoyo de combate y de servicios. Entre estos últimos estaba el de sanidad militar, que actuaba en las unidades operativas de los distritos militares para el reconocimiento de los ciudadanos para el Servicio Militar Obligatorio y en los hospitales militares. Este artículo tiene por objetivos: 1) caracterizar ese proceso en sus relaciones con las concepciones de la defensa, organización, funciones y despliegue territorial del Ejército; 2) analizar, en ese marco, la conformación del servicio de sanidad militar entre 1888, con la sanción de la Ley Orgánica del Cuerpo de Sanidad del Ejército y la Armada, y 1938, con los cambios en el diseño orgánico del Ejército en vísperas de la Segunda Guerra Mundial.

ABSTRACT At the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century, a process of modernization, bureaucratization and professionalization of the Argentine Army was initiated. As a result of this process, Army divisions were formed, which are autonomous military organizations composed of units of various weapons, combat support elements and services. Included among the latter was the military health service, which acted both in the operational units of the military districts in order to incorporate citizens into the Compulsory Military Service as well as in military hospitals. This article aims to: 1) characterize this process in relation to the concepts of defense, organization, functions and territorial deployment of the Army; 2) analyze, within that framework, the formation of the military health service between 1888 -when the Organic Law of the Sanitary Corp of the Army and the Navy was sanctioned - and 1938 - when the Army's organic design was changed on the eve of the Second World War.

Manuel Antonio Modesto Leal Catalá: un médico cienfueguero al servicio del amor y del progreso / Antonio Modesto Leal Catalá: a Doctor from Cienfuegos who Worked for Love and Progress

Manuel Antonio Modesto Leal Catalá (1874-1932) fue un médico cienfueguero descendiente de canario, que nació, vivió y fue partícipe del periodo de Modernidad y progreso en Cienfuegos. Este trabajo de corte histórico, centra la atención en esbozar su labor profesional. Como descendiente de canario, perteneció a las sociedades regionales de los canarios de la localidad y se desempeñó como médico de varias instituciones obreras cienfuegueras. Fue reconocido y considerado como uno de los clínicos de mayor reputación y notable contribución a los servicios de salud durante la República. Ejemplarmente laborioso y solícito en la atención a sus pacientes, se le conoció como el médico de los humildes.

Manuel Antonio Modesto Leal Catalá (1874-1932) was a doctor of Canarian origin, who was born, lived, and took part in the period of modernity and progress in Cienfuegos. This historical paper focuses on his work. As a descendant of Canary Islanders, he belonged to the regional associations of Canarians and served as a doctor in several institutions in the city. He was recognized and considered as one of the most reputable clinicians during the Republic with an outstanding contribution to the health services of that time. Manuel, who was exemplarily laborious and solicitous in the care of his patients, was known as the doctor of the poor.

La gimnástica como dispositivo antionanista en la conformación de la educación física Escolar en el siglo xix en España: recepción del discurso / A ginástica como dispositivo antionanista na conformação da educação física escolar do século xix na Espanha: recepção do discurso / Gymnastics as an anti-onanistic tool in shaping school physical education in 19th century Spain: discourse reception

Los discursos higiénicos sanitarios del siglo XIX hicieron de la masturbación una enfermedad cuyos efectos se relacionaron desde muy pronto con la degeneración social. Algunos estudios han puesto en relieve esta relación como condicionante de las ideas pedagógicas al destacar la importancia de la gimnástica como práctica antionanista para la infancia. No obstante, ninguna investigación ha considerado la trascendencia de dicha práctica como dispositivo en la conformación de la educación física escolar. Este artículo es parte de una investigación genealógica más amplia sobre la influencia de la cruzada antionanista en la institucionalización de la educación física en la España del siglo XIX.

Nineteen-century hygienist-health discourses referred to masturbation as an illness whose effects were related to social degeneration since early life. Some studies have highlighted that relation as a factor that conditioned pedagogic ideas by pointing out gymnastics’ popularity as an anti-onanistic practice in childhood. However, no research has considered the importance of that practice as an instrument in the shaping of school Physical Education. This article is based on a more extensive genealogical research about the anti-onanist crusade influence in the institutionalization of Physical Education in Spain during the nineteenth century. The article is part of broader genealogical research about the anti-onanistic crusade in institutionalization of Physical Education in nineteencentury Spain.

O discurso médico do século XIX fez da masturbação uma doença cujos efeitos foram associados muito cedo com a degeneração social. Alguns estudos têm destacado essa relação como uma condição das ideias pedagógicas, enfatizando a importância da ginástica como prática antionanista para crianças. No entanto, nenhuma pesquisa considerou a importância dessa prática como um dispositivo para a formação da Educação Física Escolar. Este artigo é parte de uma pesquisa genealógica mais ampla sobre a influência da cruzada antionanista na institucionalização da Educação Física no século XIX na Espanha. Nele, podemos descrever e analisar a recepção da ideologia educacional da Europa central e do sul.

Is Psychiatry Scientific? A Letter to a 21st Century Psychiatry Resident

During the development of the DSM-5, even the lay press questioned psychiatr's scientific validity. This review provides 21st century psychiatry residents with ways of answering these attacks by defining the concepts and history of psychiatry (a branch of medicine), medicine and science. Psychiatric language has two levels: first, describing symptoms and signs (19th century descriptive psychopathology developed in France and Germany), and second, describing disorders (psychiatric nosology was developed in the early 20th century by Kraepelin and resuscitated by the US neo-Kraepelinian revolution leading to the DSM-III). Science is a complex trial-and-error historical process that can be threatened by those who believe too much in it and disregard its limitations. The most important psychiatric advances, electroconvulsive therapy and major psychopharmacological agents, were discovered by "chance", not by scientific planning. Jaspers's General Psychopathology is a complex 100-year-old book that describes: 1) psychiatric disorders as heterogeneous and 2) psychiatry as a hybrid scientific discipline requiring a combination of understanding (a social science method) and explanation (a natural science method). In the 21st century Berrios reminds us of psychiatry's unfortunate methodological issues due to hybrid symptoms and disorders, some of which are better understood as problems in communication between interacting human beings; in those situations neuroscience methods such as brain imaging make no sense. A new language is needed in psychiatry. East Asian psychiatry residents, who are not particularly attached to the antiquated language currently used, may be particularly equipped for the task of recreating psychiatric language using 21st century knowledge.

Medicina, música, amistad y prejuicios: Billroth I y Billroth II, los cuartetos para cuerdas Opus 51, N° 1 y N° 2 de Johannes Brahms / Medicine, music, friendship and prejudices: Billroth I and Billroth II, the string quartets Opus 51, N° 1 and N° 2 by Johannes Brahms

Background: The great German surgeon Theodor Billroth and the imaginative and creative composer Johannes Brahms had a very close friendship centered on musical activities, that lasted for more than thirty years while they lived and worked in Zurich and Vienna, during the second half of the Nineteenth Century. Billroth, besides his all-consuming medical activities, had time to be a musical enthusiast who directed orchestras, played the violin in chamber music groups, and wrote musical criticism for newspapers. The common affection between these two creative giants is documented by their abundant and effusive correspondence, by the constant requests by Brahms of Billroth's opinions regarding his compositions, and by the positive and stimulating answers that Billroth gave to these requests. Billroth opened his house for musical evenings to play Brahms chamber compositions for the first time, and Brahms dedicated his two Opus 51 string quartets Nos. 1 and 2, known in the musical milieu as Billroth I and II, to his physician friend. Unfortunately, the close bonds between these two geniuses weakened towards the end of their lives as a result of Billroth's becoming intolerant to the lack of social refinements and gruff behavior of the composer. This baffling intolerance of Billroth to his friend Brahms can be better understood after reading Billroth's writings in his book The Medical Sciences in the German Universities. A Study in the History of Civilization. There Billroth expresses strong prejudices against potential medical students of humble social origins, such as those of Brahms, coupled to a primitive anti-Semitism.

"Cansancio" y Nación: el combate precoz de los salubristas costarricenses contra la anquilostomiasis / Hookworm disease and the Nation: Costa Rica's precocious public health campaigns

El artículo analiza la investigación médica y los programas de salud pública sobre la anquilostomiasis en Costa Rica a finales del siglo XIX y principios del XX. Entre 1908 y 1914, los especialistas costarricenses dedicados al estudio de la anquilostomiasis propusieron que la enfermedad, conocida popularmente como "cansancio", era un problema generalizado en toda la población rural y no particular de algún grupo racial o regional. Esto les permitió dar a su programa autóctono de anquilostomiasis una extensión nacional e introducir en todos los sectores populares ideas sobre bacteriología e higiene. La experiencia costarricense se anticipó al mejor conocido programa global de la Fundación Rockefeller para la erradicación de la anquilostomiasis y condujo a reorientar a la misión Rockefeller establecida en Costa Rica en 1914 a trabajar una agenda de salud pública más amplia en los programas de higiene escolar.

The article discusses medical research and public health programs on hookworm disease in Costa Rica in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Between 1908 and 1914 Costa Rican hookworm specialists proposed that hookworm disease ("cansancio" in popular parlance) was a generalized problem throughout the rural sectors, and not particular to any region or racial group. This allowed them to give their authochthonous hookworm campaign a national scope and to introduce the rural popular sectors to notions of bacteriology and hygiene. The Costa Rican experience with hookworm disease pre-dated the Rockefeller Foundation's better known global hookworm eradication program, and led to the reorientation of the Rockefeller mission when it set up in Costa Rica in 1914 to a broader public health agenda built around programs of school hygiene.

Apuntes sobre la situación social existente en Camagüey durante la Tregua Fecunda / Social Situation in Camagüey during the Tregua Fecunda (The Inter-War Period)

En la investigación sobre el proceso revolucionario cubano durante el siglo XIX en Camagüey, el aspecto social ha sido el menos estudiado en comparación con las argumentaciones de carácter económico y político. Ello refleja un vacío cognoscitivo del que no escapan los estudios que abordan la Tregua Fecunda. En el presente trabajo-fruto de una investigación más amplia- intento solucionar lo antes expuesto. Sostenido por una sólida base documental, en el estudio se aportan informaciones e interpretaciones novedosas que permiten reflexionar sobre las peculiaridades demográficas de la región y la incapacidad del Gobierno Colonial para resolver los problemas que más afectaban a la sociedad principeña en los años que precedieron al reinicio de la lucha independentista.

In investigations on the Cuban revolutionary process during the XIX century in Camagüey, the social aspect has been the less studied, in comparison with the arguments of economic and political nature.This shows a knowledge gap that also involves the period known as the Tregua Fecunda (Inter-War Period). This work-fruit of a wider investigation - tries to solve the before exposed problem. Sustained by a solid documental base, in this study information and novel interpretations are provided, which allow meditating about the demographic peculiarities of the region and the Colonial Government's inability to solve the problems that affected the Camagueyan society the most in the years that preceded the restart of the fight for independence.