History of Latin American Dermatology

History of Dermatology in Mexicospirit of its hospital centers. Hernán Cortés and the clerics who arrived with him turnedto the task caring for the ill and needy. In 1524, at the locality known as Huitzillan (hummingbirds’spot) — where in 1519 he had met with Montezuma on his arrival at the greatTenochtitlán — Cortés built the hospital of the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady, laterknown as the Hospital of Jesus, which is still in operation, being the oldest hospital institutionin the Americas (Figure 8).Also founded in that periodwere the Hospital of Santa Fe(1531), the Hospital of the Loveof God or Hospital of the Buboe(syphilis) in 1540, the Indians’Hospital, that of St. Cosme andSt. Damian and the Hospital ofSt. Hippolytus for mental patients15 .In 1779 the Hospital of St.Andrew was founded; it wasthe first to admit all kinds of patients, including those with skin ailments (Figure 9). Itwas a teaching hospital; eminent doctors such as Jiménez, Carpio, Del Río and many othersheld their Chairs there. It existed until 1905, when the current General Hospital ofMexico opened.Independent periodMedicine■ Independent periodIn the nineteenth century three events took place that would forever leave their traceon the country and its inhabitants. Firstly, the War of Independence, begun in 1810 andconcluded in 1821. Secondly, the unfair war with the United States in 1847 that endedby depriving the country of more than half its territory. Thirdly, the French invasion in1862 that imposed an Austrian prince on the Mexican throne. These events caused deepchanges in the way of life of the inhabitants of the budding Mexico, medicine and itsteaching included.In 1833 the Royal University was closed down and the Medical Sciences Establishmentcreated, the origin of what was to be the National Medical School, headquartered— as of 1854 — at the Palace of St. Dominic, the residence of the Holy Inquisition duringthe colonial period. The nineteenth century was in Europe a period of great progressin the area of medicine, progress which speedily reached Mexico, forcing the restructuringof academic programs and of medical practice. Medical schools were founded in differentparts of the country, reaching eight at the end of the nineteenth century, and theconstruction was begun of hospital centers where medical care was provided, teachingwas imparted and research promoted.The year 1841 saw the founding of the Higher Sanitary Council, an institution incharge of monitoring proper medical practices, public sanitation and hygiene and vaccinationcampaigns; this entity, along with the Public Welfare (founded in 1861), wouldconstitute the foundation for the constitution of the Health Secretariat in 1983.In 1873, the Mexican Academy of Medicine was set up, which as of 1912 was appointeda consulting organ of the government of the Republic. In 1891, at the request ofPresident Porfirio Díaz, Dr. Eduardo Liceaga drew up the first Sanitary Code.Figure 8. Hospitalof theImmaculateConception ofOur Lady, nowHospital of Jesus,founded byHernán CortésFigure 9. Hospitalof St. Andrew inMexico City263