[The role of tropical medicine in the dissertations of the Porto school of medicine, 1875-1923]

Abstract

Since 1827 the Escola Médico-Cirúrgica of Porto published hundreds of inaugural dissertations dedicated to a broad range of subjects of medical nature. Bearing in mind the prevalence of the Lisbon school in the elaboration of its own scientific knowledge in the field of tropical medicine, the contribution of the Porto establishment may well be considered residual in comparative terms. However, between 1875 and 1923, there are documentary sources that address tropical diseases, particularly malaria. This work purports to show the contributions made by the Escola Médico-Cirúrgica of Porto to a theme which initially did not arouse specific interest of northern Portuguese physicians, duly analyzing and defining the scientific output in the field of tropical medicine.