HIS-3080 History of Science

NRC: 3020

Essay Outline
Segundo Semestre 2022/2023 (202220)

Paul Constante (00208106)

Elisa Sevilla Pérez

10/03/2023
Subject: The importance of the School of Medicine in Quito and the fight against
diseases in Ecuador in the 18th century
Question: What were the common diseases, what was the importance of the creation of
the school of medicine and who were the main hospitals in Ecuador in the eighteenth
century.

Primary sources
Quiteño libre 1833-1834

Gaceta del Gobierno de Ecuador

Secondary sources:
La medicina en los primeros años de la república: 1830-1835
La ciudad de los otros Quito 1860-1940. Higienismo, ornato y policía.
La escuela Medica de Quito: origen y trayectoria de tres siglos
La descentralización en el sector salud y el control de la enfermedad de Chagas en el
Ecuador
La idea de la Republica en el Quiteño Libre (1833-1834)
Outline

The Quito School of Medicine was founded in 1767 with the objective of teaching
surgery and medicine to the Ecuadorian people. The school was the first of its kind in
the country and had a significant impact on the fight against disease. Some of the
diseases that were common at the time were yellow fever, tuberculosis and chagas. The
school taught its students how to treat these diseases and also how to prevent them. The
hospital attached to the school, San Juan de Dios, was also one of the first hospitals in
the country. It provided medical care to the Ecuadorian people and also served as a
teaching hospital for the students of the Quito School of Medicine. The school and the
hospital were very important in the fight against disease in 18th century Ecuador.
The Quito School of Medicine was founded by Dr. Andres Sarmiento in 1767. The
school's objective was to educate future Ecuadorian physicians and surgeons. The
school taught its students anatomy, physiology and pharmacology, among other things.
This allowed them to better understand how the human body works and how to treat
diseases. In the 18th century, the lack of scientific knowledge prevented doctors from
treating diseases effectively. This meant that any disease could be fatal. The creation of
the Quito School of Medicine meant that future doctors would have a deeper scientific
knowledge and would be able to deal In addition, the school was part of the first
network of hospital types in the country. This meant that people all over Ecuador could
access medical treatment. This was a major breakthrough for 18th century Ecuador, as
many remote regions did not have access to quality medical treatment.
The creation of the Quito School of Medicine meant that doctors would have the proper
training to treat people with non-curable diseases. This meant a significant improvement
in the quality of life of the Ecuadorian population. In 18th century Ecuador, many
diseases were extremely serious. The most common diseases at the time were yellow
fever, malaria, tuberculosis, chagas and food-borne diseases. These diseases were so
serious because there was no adequate treatment available for them. People used to
resort to home remedies, which was often ineffective. In addition, people were
unfamiliar with basic hygiene concepts, which meant that hygiene and health had a
negative impact on much of the population. As there was no effective treatment for
these diseases, they were extremely serious. In addition, the hospital attached to the
School of Medicine also helped to improve the health of Ecuadorians.The hospital
served as a place where doctors could successfully treat people with chronic diseases.
This meant a significant improvement in the quality of life for the entire Ecuadorian
population. The hospital also offered a variety of treatments, including surgeries,
injections, herbal treatments, etc. This meant that patients had a greater chance of
recovering and avoiding more serious illnesses. The creation of the Quito School of
Medicine meant that doctors of the time were able to treat diseases such as yellow fever,
malaria and tuberculosis. This meant a significant improvement in the health of
Ecuadorians. The school also contributed to the development of a culture of medical
care. This meant that Ecuadorians began to understand the principles of medicine and
how to prevent and treat disease. This meant that people all over the country had access
to quality medical treatment. In addition, the School of Medicine also contributed to the
development of a culture of health in Ecuador and people began to understand the basics
of health, such as the importance of good nutrition and good hygiene habits.