History of Latin American Dermatology

AMALIA M. BORES, INÉS A. BORES, LIDIA E. VALLEof the Ibero-American College of Dermatology and of the Argentine Societies of Gerontologyand Geriatrics, of Anthropology and History.In Marcial Quiroga (1899-1993) we find another example of many-sided personality.An outstanding dermatologist, he was full professor of the Chair of DermatosyphilographicClinical Medicine at the Ramos Mejía Hospital (1947-1965). He earned appointmentsas member of the National Academies of Medicine and of History and honoriscausa doctorates from the Madrid and Complutensian Universities; he was named ExtraordinaryTeacher of Dermatology by Buenos Aires City Hall in 1965 and ProfessorEmeritus of the University of Buenos Aires in 1977.As a medical historian we will stress, among his output, Historia de la lepra en la Argentina;La lepra. Pasado, Presente; Manuel Moreno, biografía; La Academia Nacionalde Medicina de Buenos Aires. We will also mention his book Paremiología Médica y otrosrefranes en la Argentina and the vast miscellany, Un libro y seis lectores 6-7-8 .In recent decades there has been an increase in the use of computers in daily life; thisallows interactive worldwide exchanges lacking in physical limits, easing the handling oftime and space. As is pointed out by Marcelo Sosa Ludicissa 9 , in the virtual world of theInternet information can be accessed concurrently by diverse means. Thus, for example,when seeing an article written by an author, additional information may be accessed; thisinteraction generates a greater capacity to associate ideas, allowing a multiplication ofone’s learning capacity. According the Berlim, at the present time “information is spherical,dynamic, with multiple access and linkage points, and basically each person constructshis own information. Paper is replaced by electronic images transmitted bytelecommunication.”The development of a computerized society will allow the construction of new culturalpatterns.■ Popular medicine. Medicine Medicine men and men magicand magicSays Pérgola: “It is not known whether the word magic originates in the name of oneof the Mede tribes known as Magi or whether – as seems etymologically likely – it comesfrom old Latin words whose meaning is linked to spiritual superiority.” The author liststhree types of magic: theurgy, of a secret and religious nature; white magic, applied togood, and black magic, which receives the help of the devil 10 .It is interpreted as the belief that every natural phenomenon, such as disease, is determinedby invisible higher entities or forces, which can to some extent by controlled viaceremonies or rites carried out by the sorcerer, magician or shaman (white magic).The shaman is a person with the capacity to fall into an ecstatic trance (magical flightor voyage of the soul). He is a seer, medicine man and life teacher.The forms of the rite include incantations, spells, enchantments*, gestures and dance.It is carried out in special places with difficult access, such as sources, islands, mountainpeaks, chasms.To the magical mind, the medical drug works by virtue of the rite with which it is applied,of the personal power of the sorcerer and of the place where it is administered 11 .This idea of medicine is characteristic of natural peoples, that is to say, of those social unitsor tribes of limited technical resources 12 . According to their interpretation of reality thereare five mechanisms of nosogenesis: the harmful spell, the violation of a taboo, the magicalpenetration of an object into the body, possession by an evil spirit and the loss of the soul.* Incantation: superstitious form of healing with magical words and empirical drugs; spell: medicine men’s imprecationor sortilege; bewitchment: effect of bewitching, operating marvels by supernatural means.50