Miguel Augusto Bombarda (1851-1910), was a Portuguese physician, scientist, professor and republican politician. He attended the Medical-Surgical School of Lisbon (the future Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon), where he founded the Institute of Histology and, later on, made an important contribution to the reform of university medical studies.
He was also director of the Rilhafoles Hospital, which was later given his name.
Simultaneously, he played an important political role in the country at the time, during the transition from Monarchy to Republic.
We highlight the organisation of the XV International Congress of Medicine, held in Lisbon in 1906. Bombarda demanded from the Portuguese government to have the then new building of the Medical-Surgical School of Lisbon - which later became the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon, and is currently the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the Nova University of Lisbon - ready in time for the Congress.
This was an exceptional event in our country, taking into account the period in which it took place, as it allowed an intense interaction and exchange of experiences between some of the world's leading experts in medicine. The organisation was a success, emphasised both in Portugal and abroad.
Bombarda also stood out for his straightforward character and for the courage with which he faced up to the established powers. He was known for his staunch anti-clericalism, which is made clear in the book we have chosen to highlight in this issue of the Newsletter.
The Jesuit priest Manuel Fernandes de Santana had criticised Bombarda for his historical and scientific vision, referring to him, writes the Psychiatrist, with "an impetuous plethora of insolences." In this book, Bombarda answers back, rebutting the theological vision of the Jesuit, supporting his positions with data on the history of science and the obstacles placed by the Catholic Church.
Miguel Bombarda, a tireless defender of the republican ideals, did not live to witness the change to the regime he always stood for, as he was murdered by a mental patient on October 3, 1910.
The Library-CDI of the FMUL keeps, as part of its non-bibliographical collection, all the documents related to the XV International Congress of Medicine of 1906, held in Lisbon, of which you can see a few examples here.
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BOMBARDA, Miguel, 1851-1910
A sciencia e o jesuitismo : replica a um padre sabio / Miguel Bombarda. - Lisboa : Parc. António M. Pereira, 1900. - 191 p. ; 21 cm
Library Reference-ULFM CDI:
HM 100 B-63 1900 - P7
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André Rodrigues
Library and Information Area
andresilva@medicina.ulisboa.pt
