Professor António Flores was born in Lisbon on 3 January 1883 and died on 13 December 1957, at the Portuguese Institute of Oncology in the capital, precisely two years after (on the same day and month) the death of his predecessor in the chair of Neurology, Professor Egas Moniz.
Blue eyed, one could guess the Nordic and French origin in his physiognomy. A descendant from the French surname Pied de Fleurs, hence his father's surname Pé de Flores, the merchant António Pé de Flores.
His education began at Campolide School, run by Jesuit priests, which operated in the neighbourhood of the same name, in Lisbon, between 1858 and 1910.
When he finished his high school course with high grades, his father offered him a trip to Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Liverpool, and London, which, together with his fluent command of English and French, helped this 16 year old to open up new horizons and gain a broader knowledge of reality. He studied medicine at the Medical-Surgical School in Lisbon and completed the degree in July 1906, with a classification of 16 marks.
During his academic career, he denoted unusual qualities, such as erudition, a well-defined personality and was a serious student. He had excellent grades and received various awards in the chairs of Topographic Anatomy, External Pathological Anatomy, Internal Pathology, General Pathology and the Alvarenga prize in Medical Matters.
When choosing the speciality, he chose Neurology, an area that at that time had little expression, both in the Medical School and in hospitals in Lisbon. Many years later, Professor António Flores, in his “Last lesson”, justified his choice: “The logical precision of its diagnoses, based on physiopathology, the comparison of clinical data with anatomopathological data, etc.”.
In the five years after graduation, with the aim of specializing in the field of psychiatry, he attended the most famous schools and accompanied Europe’s great Neurology masters. In Paris, a renowned both general and specialized study centre, in the years 1906-1907 and 1910-1911, António Flores followed the teachings of Dejerine, Babinski and Pierre Marie in their consultations, in laboratories and clinics.
It was his quest for knowledge external to medicine, such as history, fine arts or economics, that made António Flores, after his daily activities, attend conferences that took place, for example, at the Sorbonne or at the Hotel des Sociétes Savantes.
In Germany, between 1908-1910, he attended the Neurological Institute in Berlin, directed by Professor OskarVogt, the neuropsychiatric clinic of the University, at the Charité Hospital, and the consultations of Professor Oppenheim.
In one of his internships supervised by Alois Alzheimer, he was proposed a work on the nervous system of a hedgehog (an insectivore), which would be published in Germany in the “Journal für Psychologic und Neurologic”. This work was translated into Portuguese and became his degree thesis, with the title “The Myeloarchitecture and the Myelogeny of the Cerebral Cortex of the European Erinaceus”, which he defended in 1911 at the Faculty of Medicine of Lisbon, commented by his Professor and Master Marck Athias and awarded the high and unusual classification of 19 marks..
In Germany, Professor António Flores gained strong scientific knowledge in the field of neurology, due to the intense work he conducted, his personality and discretion, his robust preparation, the fact he spoke German fluently, the teachings of the great masters and, simultaneously, the prestige he achieved through the contacts he had in the medical field. During his stay in Berlin, he won the friendship and appreciation of his master Vogt who, years later, would invite him to undertake a new internship in that city, to update his knowledge on neurology and become familiar with genetic factors, which he came to do in 1927.
When he returned to Portugal at the end of 1910, our country was going through troubled times, motivated by the change of regime and the murder of Professor Miguel Bombarda. António Flores was disconcerted with the disorganization and meager means of work in our country, in comparison with the excellent laboratories and clinics where he had worked in France and Germany.
After having refused the post of director of Rilhafoles Hospital in 1910, he began his academic career in July 1911, after the reform of medical teaching, the creation of the Faculty of Medicine of Lisbon, the specialties of Neurology and Psychiatry and of the Chair given to Professor Egas Moniz, whose choice was very turbulent among the medical profession in Lisbon. He accepted the invitation of Professor Egas Moniz to be 1st Neurology assistant at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon, subject to certain conditions, including that of being entrusted with half the patients in the ward and the direction of the Pathological Anatomy laboratory.
In November 1941, he was appointed extraordinary Professor of Neurology. Due to limitations in the FML Neurology board from 1942 to 1945, he was appointed Full Professor of Psychiatry and, from February 1945, Full Professor of Neurology, later succeeding Egas Moniz. His retirement occurred on 3 January 1953.
The vast knowledge he possessed was recognized by everyone, from the several generations of students he taught to the various colleagues at S. José and Santa Marta Hospitals, who often asked for his presence and collaboration.
Shortly after the beginning of the First World War, he was mobilized as a neurologist for the Portuguese Expeditionary Corps (PEC) in France, having been awarded the Medal for Good Services in Campaign between 1914 and 1918 and in 1917-1918, as Captain of Neurology at the service of the PEC.
It should be noted the relevant services provided by Professor António Flores at this time. Taking advantage of his ability to communicate in English, he managed to go to English hospitals to treat Portuguese soldiers held there who were suffering from mental and nervous diseases, and had difficulty communicating with clinicians for not speaking the language. Subsequently, he was given the possibility to transfer these patients to a service at the Main Hospital of the Portuguese Camp no. 1, where he was director between April and July 1918.
We must not forget the actions taken and the enormous interest shown by António Flores when, at the end of 1919, Portugal was plagued by the lethargic encephalitis epidemic, whose disease he had already come across when he was in London the previous year.
António Flores is considered to be the genesis of Neurology and Neurosurgery in Portugal and a notable Lisbon clinician thanks not only to his straight, calm and thoughtful character, but also to his exceptional neurological preparation. As a lecturer, his teaching was considered to be one of the highest points at the Faculty of Medicine of Lisbon at that time, according to the testimonial of Juvenal Esteves.
His academic career was guided by naturalistic scientism.
He dedicated himself to neurology and moved away from semiology, giving priority to the observation method adopted by Babinski.
His studies focused on scientific knowledge of general anatomy, comparative anatomy of the nervous system, phylogeny and ontology.
As a researcher, his studies were based on brain architecture. His scientific studies excelled in rationalism, methodical systematization, inductive thinking and fidelity to the doctrines of his masters who were absolute references in terms of scientific guidance.
As a scientist, and both for research of the nervous system as well as for the material analysis of mental illnesses, Professor António Flores gave primacy to anatomical physiology aided by Mental Medicine and Psychology. In clinical terms, he combined the neurological with the psychological. He was averse to interpretations using the unconscious or Freudian symbolism, and he always cultivated mental and cerebral pathology, especially in the field of organic dementias and encephalopathies.
Main Works Published by Professor António Flores:
He published several scientific works in several specialized magazines, such as the German publication Journal für Psychologic und Neurologic, the French magazine Revue Neurologique or the magazine Lisboa Médica, and the following stand out:
In 1911, the degree thesis entitled “Myeloarchitecture and the Myelogeny of the Cerebral Cortex of the European Erinaceus”.
In 1953, the articles “Cinquenta anos de Neurologia” (Fifty years of Neurology) was published in the medical magazine A Medicina Contemporânea, and “Orientação do Hospital Júlio de Matos” was published in Jornal do Médico.
When he reached the age limit, he left his duties as director of Júlio de Matos Hospital and as coordinator of Neurology at the Faculty of Medicine of Lisbon. In his last lesson on 15 December 1953, Professor António Flores was accompanied by colleagues, students and friends who admired his brilliant career as a consecrated master. After Dr Romão Loff’s speech, António Flores began his last lesson, describing his career as a student and as a doctor, praising “… the cordial union of the neurological family of Santa Marta”, which he helped to bring together. Soon afterwards, at the Neurology service, a portrait of António Flores was unveiled and there were speeches by Professors Almeida Lima, Adelino Padesca and Egas Moniz.
Days later, Professor António Flores was honoured at Júlio de Matos Hospital (where he was its first director), beginning with a speech by Professor Barahona Fernandes, who praised the scientific work and the excellent qualities of Professor Flores. The session ended after Dr Ribeiro Queirós read an order from the Minister of Internal Affairs, praising the great services provided by Professor António Flores to the country throughout his brilliant career and with the unveiling of a fresco depicting the work of the Professor.
Later, at the Faculty of Medicine of Lisbon, Professor António Flores was honoured by his colleagues, and the Director of the Faculty, Professor Toscano Rico, who highlighted the numerous services he provided to Science, Neurology and the Country.
Also a young group of citizens of Castelo de Vide (a place where the professor spent his holidays for many years and adopted as his homeland), organized a tribute to him on 17 May 1953, attended by the most important people from that Alentejo village.
On 13 April 1958, the weekly Terra Alta, published in Castelo de Vide, organized in its issue no 60, an expressive tribute to Professor António Flores. In the same year, a reprint of that weekly was published with the title “A tribute from Castelo de Vide to Professor António Flores”.
During his professional career he held numerous positions such as:
1911 – Assistant at the Faculty of Medicine of Lisbon;
1917/18 - Captain in charge of the nervous and mental patients of the PEC;
1917/18 - Neurologist of the Portuguese Expeditionary Corps in France;
1922 to July 1936 - Assistant to the Director of Santa Marta Hospital;
1933 (April)- Member of the Works Committee at Júlio de Matos Hospital;
1941 - Member of the Medical-Legal Council of the Institute of Forensic Medicine
1941 – Extraordinary Professor of Neurology;
1941-1945 - President of the Hospital Set-up and Administrative Committee of the Medical Board of Júlio de Matos Hospital;
1941-1945 - Director of the Miguel Bombarda Asylum;
1942-1945 – Full professor of Psychiatry;
1945 – Full professor of Neurology;
1945 (April) - Member of the University Senate;
1945 (May) - 1st Director of Hospital Júlio de Matos;
1945-1947 – Director of the Faculty of Medicine of Lisbon, requesting his resignation in 1947, following a police charge;
1957 - Chairman of the Board of the Egas Moniz Study Centre; Chairman of the Board of the Portuguese Institute of Rheumatology.
He carried out various internships in several European countries along his professional career:
1920 - Study mission to Berlin, Brussels, Paris and Madrid;
1926 - Visits to neurological clinics in Berlin;
1927 - Study missions to Berlin and Copenhagen;
1929 - Study missions to Paris and Strasbourg and to neurological clinics in Berlin;
1930 - Visits to neurological clinics in France, Switzerland and Italy;
1933 - Study trip to mental hospitals in France, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.
He has been a member of numerous scientific societies:
1911- Society of Medical Sciences;
1923 - Société Neurologique de Paris;
1947 - Effective member of the Lisbon Academy of Sciences, appointed academic correspondent as of this date, effective member number 16 since 1952. In the Medical Sciences class, he succeeded Augusto Celestino da Costa in 1956;
1948 - Portuguese Society of Oto-neuro-ophthalmology;
1950 - Portuguese Society of Neurology and Psychiatry, since 1950, appointed first Assistant as of this date;
1952 - Deutsche Gesellshaft fur Neurologie.
He held various positions in some Scientific and Professional Societies:
1912 - Secretary of the Association of Portuguese Doctors; 1st President of the Portuguese Society of Neurology and Psychiatry;
1948 - President of the Society of Rheumatology; Member of the Lisbon Academy of Sciences;
1940-1943 - Chairman of the Portuguese Medical Association. In this capacity, on 26/11/1940, he started his parliamentary career when he was appointed Member to the Corporate Chamber in the II Legislature. He was later reappointed in the III Legislature. Member of the Spiritual and Moral Interests Section.
He was honoured with the following decorations and praises:
- Medal for participation in the Great War 1914-1918;
- Praise for the services provided at the 32nd Base Hospital during the First World War;
- Victory Medal;
- Silver Medal for Good Services in Campaign (19-04-1918);
- Grand Officer of Public Instruction - Upon retirement;
- Necklace from the Academy of Sciences.
After his death and in his honour:
- The António Flores Alcohol Dependence Centre was inaugurated on 2 April 1967, at Júlio de Matos Hospital.
- In 2008, the Portuguese Society of Neurology (SPN) created the António Flores Prize.
- The name of Professor António Flores is part of the national toponym, in the following locations:
- Lisbon (parish of Campo Grande)
- Amadora
- Almada (parish of Charneca da Caparica)
- Castelo de Vide (statue in his memory)
As a curiosity, we transcribe a text, whose episode was reported by Professor Vítor Oliveira, Professor at the Neurology Service, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, in an interview with Inês Melo about Professor António Flores, and published in an article with the title “António Flores, the master of Neurology in Lisbon”:
“From socializing with João Flores Bugalho, grandson of this «illustrious person», Professor Vítor Oliveira recalls the extremely methodical personality of the neurologist, and some stories that passed on from generation to generation. One of these episodes follows:
«At home, Prof. António Flores had a small laboratory where he liked to work and, therefore, it was there that he often received material to analyze. At one point, it was agreed that an employee from the Lisbon School Hospital would take him a brain to study. When he arrived home, António Flores asked the maid, recently hired, if he had received a package. She swiftly replied yes, from the butcher – he had a white coat and everything – who brought a brain, which she had already cooked... That day, they had brains for lunch»
References:
António José Pereira Flores (1883-1957). Retrieved on 12/10/2020
https://fontedavila.org/personalidades.aspx?menu=25&modo=det&ide=30
ANTÓNIO JOSÉ PEREIRA FLORES. Retrieved on 12/10/2020
António Flores, o mestre da Neurologia em Lisboa. Retrieved on 12/10/2020
Recordamos hoje o Médico e Professor António Flores, no dia em que passa mais um aniversário do seu nascimento. Retrieved on 12/10/2020
ESTEVES, Juvenal. A esclarecida mensagem de António Flores: neurologia no auge da medicina. FML Bulletin (1989), no. 43, pp. 1-3
MELO, Inês. António Flores, o mestre da Neurologia em Lisboa. Retrieved on 12/10/2020https://www.spneurologia.com/files/contentpage/003/antonio-flores-mestre-da-neurologia-em-lisboa_file_3.pdf
Ao Prof. António Flores. O Médico (1953), a. IV, supl., pp. 129-130
Prof. António Flores. J. do Médico (1958), vol. 35 (781), pp. 141-142
SACADURA, Costa. O Professor Doutor António Flores na Academia das Ciências de Lisboa. O Médico (1957), n. 307, pp. 80-82
Lurdes Barata
Library and Information Area
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