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Biomedical subjects

R Cruz-Coke

Publications and source records attributed to R Cruz-Coke.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[150 Years of the University of Chile School of Medicine (1842-1992)].

The development of medical education during colonial times was slow due to problems analyzed elsewhere. In 1833, the first Medical School of the Republic was founded at the National Institute. The first four physicians graduated in 1842. The University of Chile was founded on november 19; 1842, Andres Bello being its first Rector. Medicine was among the first 5 Faculties. Two Chileans, Luis Ballester and Francisco Javier Tocornal and 6 foreigners, the Britishmen Thomas Armstrong, Nathaniel Cox, Juan Blest and Guillermo Blest and the Frenchmen Lorenzo Sazie and Julio Lafargue were the first Faculty members. Sazie was named Dean in 1943 with Tocornal as Secretary. A new curriculum was developed in 1845. The University of Chile and its Faculty of Medicine, as state supported non confessional and national institutions have played a fundamental role in the cultural and medical development of the country. Graduates from these institutions were instrumental in the development of social medicine during the XXth century.

Chile

[The Expulsion of the Jesuits (1767) and its impact on Chilean medicine in colonial times].

In the mid XVIII century medical education was started in Chile with the foundation of the University of San Felipe. However, King Charles the Third expelled the Jesuits from the Spanish Empire in 1767 resulting in clear deterioration of medical development. Jesuits concentrated the cultural elite of the country and had the best professionals and libraries. A restrictive intervention from the Spanish government led to the establishment of a "Protomedicato" whose first director was Dr Jose Antonio Rios who remained in office for 40 years. At the end of the Colonial period, only 4 latin physicians and 3 bachelors in Medicine had graduated from the Universidad San Felipe, from an initial enrollment of 38 students in half a century. Only 5 among 25 doctors practicing in Chile in the first half on the XIXth century had been born in this country. This shortage was a severe handicap in the fight against smallpox and other plagues. Only the foundation of 2 hospitals (San Borja and Valparaíso) can be mentioned as positive actions coming from the Spanish government, and this was possible by using funds confiscated from the Jesuits. It was only after the establishment of the Republic and the foundation of the University of Chile, that medical development could again flourish in this country.

Chile

Chilean medicine under social revolution.

During the last decade Chile has experienced a series of social changes under Christian Socialist (1964-1970), Marxist Socialist (1970-1973) and military (1973-1975) governments. These changes grossly affected the evolution of medicine and public health in Chile. Nevertheless, vital statistics show an overall improvement in health indexes, with a short interruption during the Marxist government. During this period medical standards and the quality of medical services declined when revolutionaries disrupted the organization of traditional socialized Chilean medicine founded 50 years ago. The vital statistics of 1974 suggest an overall recovery, but physical and human resources for health, eroded by revolution and the present acute economic crisis, have not yet begun to improve. Nevertheless, Chilean medicine has reasumed the technical character that should never have been abandoned.

Chile