History of Latin American Dermatology

History of Dermatology in GuatemalaSubjects: 1. Anatomy, histology and physiology of the skin. 2. Dermatological semiology.3. Cutaneous manifestations of systemic diseases. 4. Sexually transmitted diseases.5. Infectious dermatology. 6. Dermatological oncology. 7. Erythemato-scaly dermatitis.8. Bullous dermatosis. 9. Reactive dermatosis. 10. Acne, seborrheic dermatitis.■ The Institute for Dermatology and Skin Surgery (INDERMA)Institute for Dermatology and Skin Surgery (INDERMA)Peter Greenberg Cordero, Suzzette de León G.Brief history of the La Piedad asylum in Nueva Guatemala de laAsunción: the Ramiro Gálvez National Hospital and its presidentsOn July 29, 1773, the “earthquake St. Martha” destroyed the city of Santiago de losCaballeros and many nearby towns. It was the distinguished Archbishop Don PedroCortés y Larraz who took an interest in assisting the patients convalescing in the hospitals(figure 23, 24, 25) and showed concern over the condition of the lepers secluded inthe Hospital of St. Lazarus.In 1875, Don Rafael Angulo y Urruela established a small leprosarium at theformer convent of St. Dominic, but as leprosy was a that time considered a highlycontagious disease, the neighbors protested and asked the government to have thepatients transferred elsewhere. On December 23, 1881, the political leadership ofthe department of Guatemala appointed a place called “Jocotales or LasPiedrecitas,” seven kilometers from the center of the city and measuring 100blocks, as the appropriate spot for the construction of a leprosarium, which wasrecorded under the name of “Leprosarium of Las Piedrecitas” or “Leprosarium ofElefancíacos.” Rafael Angulo y Urruela was the founder and first head of thelazarette; he carried out remarkable administrative work, paid the costs and builta small chapel.This treatment center performed its task even in difficult periods and circumstances,such as those that took place in 1917-18, when it was completely destroyed.In the year 1920, it was rebuilt by Rafael Mauricio and José Ruiz Angulo who held theposts of presidents of the General Hospital.Through a governmental decision dated November 8, 1960, and in recognition of thework carried out by one of its presidents, the late Dr. Ramiro Gálvez Azteguieta, whoworked at the asylum for more than 15 years, its name was changed from “Mercy Asylum”to “Ramiro Gálvez National Hospital” (Table 2) (Figures 26, 27, 28).Figure 25. St. Peter’sHospitalTable 2. Presidents of the Ramiro Gálvez Asteguieta National HospitalNAME OF PRESIDENTDr. José Manuel ValdésDr. José UrrutiaDr. Domingo ÁlvarezDr. Rafael MauricioDr. Salvador OrtizDr. Ramiro GálvezDATEONWICHHETOOKOFFICE26n–nn9n–n187723n–nn2n–n188430n–nn4n–n188714n–n12n–n189523n–n11n–n190120n–n11n–n1925NAME OF PRESIDENTProf. Dr. Fernando A. Cordero C.Dr. Mariano CastilloDr. Eduardo Silva MartínezDr. Carlos N. Cordero A.Dr. Peter A. Greenberg CorderoDATEONWICHHETOOKOFFICE18n–nn3n–n194129n–nn5n–n194825n–n11n–n195512n–n12n–n198427n–nn3n–n2003In 1972 the Guatemalan President gave Prof. Dr. Fernando A. Cordero C. (figure 29)the job of reorganizing the Ramiro Gálvez Hospital (leprosarium) owing to the fact thatit was in a calamitous state and offered the hospitalized patients very poor care. In what243