History of Latin American Dermatology

History of Dermatology in UruguayInstitute for Syphilis as a Section for Venereal Treatment and Prophylaxis. There, by reasonof their lengthy, self-sacrificing and fruitful labors, we stress the names of Drs. MarioTaglioreti, Arnaldo Lombardi, Rubén Cusmanich, Pablo Klertorny, Héctor Abreu andFrancisco Amor García. The physicians in charge of this struggle at the Hospital Clinicswere Prof. Dr. José Brito Foresti and Joaquín Canabal at the Maciel Hospital; at the helmof the National Syphilocomium stood Dr. Germán Segura and the doctors of the MilitaryHospital. The patients were, according to their symptomatology, treated jointly withother specialists; they were hospitalized in the Ricord Ward. Until the year 1906, the majorityof syphilitic prostitutes registered in police records were hospitalized at the GynecologicalClinic of Prof. Dr. Enrique Puey, under a ruling of the Medical Inspection ofProstitution dependent on the National Council on Hygiene, and at the Dr. Germán Seguraward, where the Syphilocomium (Hospital Service for Venereal Diseases) was set upunder the leadership of Dr. Juan A. Rodríguez. Patients belonging to the Army and to Policeforces went into the Military Hospital. It was the Institute which was in charge of performingall tasks related to lab tests (Wasserman and LCR); drawing up the guidelinesfor the diverse forms of treatment and supervising prevention, and controlling the antisyphilisdispensaries created several years previously as well as the statistics correspondingto each district.Competitions were held for the physicians who at the given moment were called “doctorsin dermatology and sexual hygiene.” Alberto Scaltriti and Ángel Canabal worked atthe Institute, along with dermatologists from diverse hospitals and dispensaries. As fromits founding in 1917, this Institute was an example and a point of referral for all of LatinAmerica; its reports were the first to be issued following the guidelines of the papers ofthe European school, particularly the French one. Years later, the Institute was put incharge of control of all venereal diseases, not only syphilis. This huge undertaking setfoundations that proved essential for succeeding generations by virtue of the earnestnesswith which the work was always carried out, of the results of its laboratory tests, of theoriginality of its research and of its control over all aspects related to these diseases 20 .Latin American Union Against Sexually TransmittedDiseases (ULACETS)At the initiative of a group of Central American dermatologists, the creation of thisnew entity was proposed during a CILAD Congress. In the years 1974-76 a GoverningBoard was constituted and the bylaws drawn up. The importance of this institution,which has worldwide renown, was acknowledged by the PAHO-WHO which appointed usas advisors for these STDs.Numerous congresses were held in diverse countries of Latin America, at two-year intervals;three of them took place in Montevideo, under the leadership of Raúl Vignale,Probo Pereira and Hilda Abreu. Every three months a Bulletin was issued together withProf. Walter Belda of Brazil, alma mater of the institution, and personalities like Woscoff,Flichman, Vignale and other Latin American colleagues, who for many years worked inan intensive and selfless manner. The Bulletin presented new medical scientific advances,as well as comments on the Congresses. This was ULACETS’ first period of glory.Some years ago, the advent of AIDS produced a division, ULACETS remaining on onehand and the Latin American Union Against AIDS on the other. At the CILAD-2004 Congressin Buenos Aires a new ULACETS Governing Board was formed under the leadership of Dr.Parizzi and Hilda Abreu; meetings began and the venues of the next Congresses were established.This shall be the second glorious stage of ULACETS-UPICETS. ■September 2005417