At 100 years of Gaceta Médica de México resumption

Gaceta Médica de México, official journal of the National Academy of Medicine of Mexico, began its circulation on September 15, 1864, and continues to be positioned as the oldest medical periodical publication. However, its publication was temporarily interrupted. The present study analyzes the interruption suffered by Gaceta in 1916, its resumption in 1919, and the causes that originated that discontinuity. The consequences of the so-called Mexican revolution and the enthusiasm and commitment of the academy and its editors to continue working for the progress of national medicine are discussed.

Tres médicos mexicanos y su referencia al ejercicio ético moral de la medicina: segunda mitad del siglo XIX / Three Mexican physicians and their moral and ethical reference to the practice of medicine: second half of the 19 century

En la actualidad se habla cada vez más de la suficiencia tecnológica, del aislamiento humano y de la evasión por parte del personal de salud hacia las necesidades afectivas de los pacientes; este enfoque no es reciente. A través de múltiples fuentes, los médicos del siglo XIX mexicano externaron sus inquietudes respecto a la manera como se llevaba a cabo la atención del enfermo; aseguraban que el progreso científico estaba originando la deshumanización de la medicina, haciendo olvidar que el médico trabaja con seres sensibles e inteligentes y que, por tanto, debía ajustar su proceder de acuerdo con la personalidad de sus pacientes. Ante tal situación, los médicos decimonónicos invitaban a la reflexión, a cumplir una serie de deberes frente al enfermo, ante sus colegas y ante las autoridades gubernamentales, lo que nos lleva a concluir que los principios éticos siempre han estado vigentes. Este artículo analiza en particular la postura de tres profesionales de la salud: Francisco Flores (1855-1931), Porfirio Parra (1854-1912) y Adrián de Garay (1860-192?), respecto a cómo debía ser el ejercicio de su profesión; externan que los principios éticos debían estar presentes en todo momento.

Worldwide, the technological revolution is taking place, but the human aspect of health care demonstrates that medical personnel often avoid the responsibility for the emotional care of their patients. This is not a recent point of view. In many ways, during the 19th century, Mexican physicians were outspoken about the problems in regard to the manner in which care of sick persons was carried out. They were certain that scientific progress was the origin of medical dehumanization, frequently forgetting that physicians were treating sensitive and intelligent persons and, therefore, must adjust their behavior in accordance with their patients. Because of this situation, 19th century physicians were invited to share a list of responsibilities and duties to patients, among their professional colleagues as well as among government authorities. In particular, the philosophies of three health professionals were analyzed, Francisco Flores (1855-1931), Porfirio Parra (1854-1912) and Adrián de Garay (1860-192?), in regard to how the practice of medicine should be exercised and that the underlying ethical and moral principles must always be present.

Luis Hidalgo y Carpio, editor de Gaceta Médica de México (1818-1879) / Luis Hidalgo y Carpio, editor of Gaceta Médica de México (1818-1879)

Luis Hidalgo y Carpio (1818-1879) fue un insigne médico mexicano especializado en aspectos forenses, que hizo interesantes aportaciones a la medicina de su tiempo; sin embargo, para el perfil que interesa destacar, el de editor, las fuentes no son abundantes, pues precisamente en 1867, cuando Hidalgo y Carpio ocupó la presidencia de la Sociedad Médica de México, conocida posteriormente como Academia Nacional de Medicina, se interrumpió la publicación de Gaceta Médica de México, medio informativo de la Sociedad Médica. El papel de nuestro personaje como editor fue de gran trascendencia debido a que la comunidad médica requería un medio de comunicación donde externara sus logros científicos y se retroalimentara con las lecturas de la publicación en cuestión, que tuvo un gran alcance no solo por el carácter periódico que la caracterizó sino también por el organismo que representaba.

Luis Hidalgo y Carpio (1818-1879) was a notable physician who made important contributions to the field of medicine during his time. Nevertheless, reference sources on the aspect from Hidalgo y Carpio that we would like to emphasize (i.e. as an editor of a medical journal) are scarce since precisely when Hidalgo y Carpio was named President of the Medical Society (later the Academia Nacional de Medicina), in 1987, the publication of the Gaceta Médica de México was temporarily interrupted. Hidalgo y Carpio played a key role as an editor at a time when the medical community of Mexico required a means whereby the scientific achievements could be published and discussed among peers and colleagues. Under Hidalgo y Carpio, the Gaceta Médica de México soon reached a wide audience, not only as a periodical publication but also for the prestige of the Academy that represented.

Historia de la salud publica en México: siglos XIX Y XX / History of public health in Mexico: 19th and 20th centuries

Análise do desenvolvimento da saúde pública mexicana nos dois últimos séculos. Faz referência às doenças e seu controle, ao aparecimento das institutiçöes e à evoluçäo da conceito de saúde pública na história mexicana.