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A tribute to Juliano Moreira on his birth sesquicentennial

Uma homenagem no sesquicentenário de nascimento de Juliano Moreira

A hundred-fifty years ago, Brazil was still a slave country, and at that time the great Juliano Moreira was born, son of a black mother, a descendant of slaves, linked to the house of the Barão de Itapuã, which provided the necessary support for Moreira to attend the Faculty of Medicine of Bahia. Moreira is from Salvador, where he was born on January 6, 1872, and died in Petrópolis, on May 2, 1933. He was a son of Galdina Joaquina do Amaral, but only after the death of his mother, when Moreira was 13 years old, was he profiled by Manoel do Carmo Moreira Júnior, Portuguese, public lighting inspector. Despite these mishaps, he managed to enter the medical course in 1886 and graduated in 1891, at the age of 19, with the thesis Early Malignant Syphilis11 Nardi AE, Carta MG, Shorter E. The remarkable Juliano Moreira (1872-1933): an Afro-Brazilian psychiatrist, scientist, and humanist in an environment of slavery and racism. Braz J Psychiatry. 2021;43(3):237-9.,22 Dicionário Histórico-Biográfico das Ciências da Saúde no Brasil (1832-1930). Rio de Janeiro: Casa de Oswaldo Cruz/Fiocruz. Available from: http://www.dichistoriasaude.coc.fiocruz.br/iah/pt/verbetes/morjul.htm
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Moreira suffered from tuberculosis for many years and when he was admitted to a sanatorium in Cairo, he met Augusta Peick, a German nurse from Hamburg, whom he married in the early 1910s11 Nardi AE, Carta MG, Shorter E. The remarkable Juliano Moreira (1872-1933): an Afro-Brazilian psychiatrist, scientist, and humanist in an environment of slavery and racism. Braz J Psychiatry. 2021;43(3):237-9.,22 Dicionário Histórico-Biográfico das Ciências da Saúde no Brasil (1832-1930). Rio de Janeiro: Casa de Oswaldo Cruz/Fiocruz. Available from: http://www.dichistoriasaude.coc.fiocruz.br/iah/pt/verbetes/morjul.htm
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Nardi et al.11 Nardi AE, Carta MG, Shorter E. The remarkable Juliano Moreira (1872-1933): an Afro-Brazilian psychiatrist, scientist, and humanist in an environment of slavery and racism. Braz J Psychiatry. 2021;43(3):237-9. trace the journey of this exceptional Brazilian from the beginning of his life, the dawn of his career until he arrived in Rio de Janeiro when he soon became director of the Hospício Nacional dos Alienados – HNA (National Hospice for the Insane) before the proclamation of the Republic called Hospício Pedro II and there, from 1903 until 1930, he left his definitive legacy for the history of Psychiatry and of Brazilian Neurology.

Already in life, Moreira was recognized nationally and internationally, having taken a turn in the paths of Psychiatry, deviating from the French alienist current traditionally adopted in Brazil, by the German psychiatric current led by Emil Kraepelin.

Moreira acted to boost national scientific production and promote means of exchange with renowned foreign scientific centers with the help for instance of Afrânio Peixoto by the creation in 1905 of the periodical Archivos Brasileiros de Psychiatria, Neurologia e Sciencias Affins/Brazilian Archives of Psychiatry, Neurology and Allied Sciences, which also became an arena for theoretical disputes between supporters of German psychiatry and French alienism. Three years later it was renamed Archivos Brasileiros de Psychiatria, Neurologia e Medicina Legal/Brazilian Archives of Psychiatry, Neurology and Legal Medicine, and it became a vehicle for publicizing the activities of the Society of Psychiatry, Neurology and Legal Medicine, founded in 1907, with the contribution of Moreira and dozens of other collaborators33 Facchinetti C, Cupello P, Evangelista DF. Arquivos Brasileiros de Psiquiatria, Neurologia e Ciências Afins: a source rich in history. História. Ciências, Saúde-Manguinhos. 2010;17:527-35.. Besides, the Archivos Brasileiros de Medicina/Brazilian Archives of Medicine, created under the direction of Moreira and Antonio Austregesilo, in 1911, was another publishing medical journal in the Psychiatric and also in other medical areas44 Moraes MC. No canto do isolamento: loucura e tuberculose no Hospício Nacional de Alienados (1890-1930) [Tese]. [Internet]. Rio de Janeiro: Casa de Oswaldo Cruz/Fiocruz; 2020. Available from: https://ppghcs.coc.fiocruz.br/images/teses/TESE-Monica_Moraes-PPGHCS-1.pdf
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As director of NHA (1903-1930), he revolutionized the treatment of the mentally ill, making it more humanized and discrediting the racist bias of theories of mental illness linked to ethnicity, but not to the origins of the socially disadvantaged black population.

This tribute unfolds in the influential legacy of Moreira through several Brazilian personalities, especially in the areas of Psychiatry and Neurology, but also in the architectural remains that can still be recognized today in the space of the Campus of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro in Praia Vermelha (Figure 1).

Figure 1
Oblique and Panoramic Image of the Hospício Nacional dos Alienados, 1903.

Among these names stood out Júlio Afrânio Peixoto, Miguel da Silva Pereira, Antônio Austregésilo Rodrigues Lima, and Antonio Fernandes Figueira, but others were formed under the direction of Moreira, such as Faustino Monteiro Esposel, Ulysses Machado Pereira Vianna Filho and Adauto Junqueira Botelho22 Dicionário Histórico-Biográfico das Ciências da Saúde no Brasil (1832-1930). Rio de Janeiro: Casa de Oswaldo Cruz/Fiocruz. Available from: http://www.dichistoriasaude.coc.fiocruz.br/iah/pt/verbetes/morjul.htm
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Notably, Antonio Austregesilo (1876-1960), who established himself as the father of Brazilian Neurology was part of Moreira's team and Faustino Monteiro Esposel (1888-1931) was Austregesilo's assistant and substitute lecturer at the neurological and psychiatric clinics, as well as a doctor at the Assistance to Psychopaths and professor of Neurology at the Fluminense Faculty of Medicine55 Muñoz PFN. À luz do biológico: psiquiatria, neurologia e eugenia nas relações Brasil-Alemanha (1900-1942) [Tese]. [Internet]. Rio de Janeiro: Casa de Oswaldo Cruz/Fiocruz; 2015. Available from: https://ppghcs.coc.fiocruz.br/images/dissertacoes/teste/tese_pedro_munoz.pdf
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As for the others, several comments need to be made. Júlio Afrânio Peixoto (1876-1947) was the one who appointed Moreira to the direction of the HNA, and also disseminated Kraepelian psychiatry in Brazil and helped Moreira implement the reforms of the HNA. However, between 1906 and 1907 he began to dedicate himself to other activities, having, in 1907, became a professor of Forensic Medicine at the Faculdade de Medicina do Rio de Janeiro. Antonio Fernandes Figueira (1863-1928) was already a renowned pediatrician when he took over the direction of the children's sector of the HNA, the Bourneville Pavilion, between 1903 and 1921. Ulysses Machado Pereira Vianna Filho (1880-1935) was an adjunct physician to the Pinel section of the HNA, between 1908 and 1912 and together with Moreira and Austregésilo, was also a great promoter of German scientific theories. Adauto Junqueira Botelho (1895-1963), was an assistant and professor at the Psychiatric Clinic, Doctor of Assistance to Psychopaths and Director of the National Service for Mental Illnesses55 Muñoz PFN. À luz do biológico: psiquiatria, neurologia e eugenia nas relações Brasil-Alemanha (1900-1942) [Tese]. [Internet]. Rio de Janeiro: Casa de Oswaldo Cruz/Fiocruz; 2015. Available from: https://ppghcs.coc.fiocruz.br/images/dissertacoes/teste/tese_pedro_munoz.pdf
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In addition, Moreira, remembering Jean-Martin Charcot's Tuesday soirees, valued social interaction and promoted meetings with the presence of foreign diplomats, professors, artists and doctors, such as Miguel Ozório de Almeida, Gastão Cruls and Antonio da Silva Mello22 Dicionário Histórico-Biográfico das Ciências da Saúde no Brasil (1832-1930). Rio de Janeiro: Casa de Oswaldo Cruz/Fiocruz. Available from: http://www.dichistoriasaude.coc.fiocruz.br/iah/pt/verbetes/morjul.htm
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. It should be noted that his residence was located next to the Hospice, on what is now called Avenida Pasteur, alongside three other residences that also included the house of the staff doctors, the residence of the doctor in the observation pavilions, and the residence of the administrator of the hospice66 Nóbrega C, Dias MA. O Campus da UFRJ na Praia Vermelha. Academia (FAU/UFRJ). 2006;7:20-3. (Figure 2). This set is preserved and currently houses the Rectory, Vice-Rectory and Pro-Rectories of the Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro77 Unirio. Reitoria [Internet]. Rio de Janeiro: Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Available from: http://www.unirio.br/ceng/expo-fefieg-a-unirio/paginas/reitoria-1#portal-column-one
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Figure 2
Juliano Moreira's residence at the side of the Hospício Nacional dos Alienados.

Regarding the buildings existing at the time of Moreira, some of them remain, such as the great “Palácio dos Loucos”/”Palace of the Fools”, a neoclassical construction from the 19th century, which was modernized during the major renovation promoted by Moreira, in the early 20th century44 Moraes MC. No canto do isolamento: loucura e tuberculose no Hospício Nacional de Alienados (1890-1930) [Tese]. [Internet]. Rio de Janeiro: Casa de Oswaldo Cruz/Fiocruz; 2020. Available from: https://ppghcs.coc.fiocruz.br/images/teses/TESE-Monica_Moraes-PPGHCS-1.pdf
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,66 Nóbrega C, Dias MA. O Campus da UFRJ na Praia Vermelha. Academia (FAU/UFRJ). 2006;7:20-3.,88 Gomes MM, Engelhardt E. Historical sketches of the beginnings of the academic “Mental and Nervous Diseases” in Brazil, and European influences. Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2013;71(8):562-5.. Consequently, the Hospice became under Moreira's administration as a true hospital complex: structured with well-equipped laboratories, therapeutic services, and operating rooms; as well as sections specialized in the care of patients with epilepsy, children, and with infectious diseases. In this sense, with the target of improving assistance to the insane, several projects by Moreira took shape on the hospice's land, such as the porch-pavilions and the arboreal park created to benefit the treatment of the insane with tuberculosis44 Moraes MC. No canto do isolamento: loucura e tuberculose no Hospício Nacional de Alienados (1890-1930) [Tese]. [Internet]. Rio de Janeiro: Casa de Oswaldo Cruz/Fiocruz; 2020. Available from: https://ppghcs.coc.fiocruz.br/images/teses/TESE-Monica_Moraes-PPGHCS-1.pdf
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Today, much of what remains of this complex is the property of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) and the main building is the University Palace which houses some courses, among other departments, such as the School of Communication, the Faculties of Education, Administration and Accounting Sciences. In the Hospice backland, since 1995, the Casa da Ciência – Cultural Center of Science and Technology of UFRJ has been operating in the former Alaor Prata Pavilion, aimed at the mentally ill with tuberculosis from 1926 to 194444 Moraes MC. No canto do isolamento: loucura e tuberculose no Hospício Nacional de Alienados (1890-1930) [Tese]. [Internet]. Rio de Janeiro: Casa de Oswaldo Cruz/Fiocruz; 2020. Available from: https://ppghcs.coc.fiocruz.br/images/teses/TESE-Monica_Moraes-PPGHCS-1.pdf
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. The Institute of Psychiatry was developed from the structure of the Pavilion of Observation (Magnan Pavilion, Henrique Roxo Pavilion, Teixeira Brandão Pavilion), inaugurated in 1894, which served, at the same time, as a place for the study of nervous diseases at the Faculty of Medicine of Rio de Janeiro and the screening of “indigent patients” of the Hospice33 Facchinetti C, Cupello P, Evangelista DF. Arquivos Brasileiros de Psiquiatria, Neurologia e Ciências Afins: a source rich in history. História. Ciências, Saúde-Manguinhos. 2010;17:527-35.,99 Muñoz PFN, Facchinetti C, Dias AAT. Suspeitos em observação nas redes da psiquiatria: o Pavilhão de Observações (1894-1930). Memorandum. 2011;20:83-104..

The Institute of Psychology has occupied, since the early 1960s, the building where the asylum's laundry used to work. The Institute of Neurology emerged from the pavilion built for this speciality in 1925 by Professor Antonio Austregesilo, and also took over the former HNA morgue66 Nóbrega C, Dias MA. O Campus da UFRJ na Praia Vermelha. Academia (FAU/UFRJ). 2006;7:20-3.. These three Institutes also inherited the HNA scientific and health care tradition.

Besides, the nowadays Instituto Municipal Philippe Pinel dates back to the Afrânio Peixoto Dispensary and the Gaffrée Guinle Ambulatory, built in the area of the Guislain Pavilion (epileptic patients) in the early 1920s, with the consent of Moreira. They were open services for venereal diseases, mainly syphilis, and they operated without the formalities of hospitalization and independent of the HNA. This experience was a precursor to the Neurosyphilis Institute, created in 1937, as a center of the Psychopaths Assistance Service of the Ministry of Education and Health. In 1944, it became the Neurosyphilis Hospital, but with the syphilis downward trend, it became a psychiatric emergency room. In 1965, it was renamed Hospital Pinel and it obtained administrative autonomy. To meet the demand for beds, the original architectural complex was partially demolished and the remnant build took modern features and was inaugurated as a model hospital in 1968. In 2000, the City of Rio de Janeiro took over its administration1010 Ramos FAC, Geremias L. Instituto Philippe Pinel: origens históricas. Rio de Janeiro: Secretaria Municipal de Saúde e Defesa Civil, s/d. Available from: https://docplayer.com.br/5842109-Instituto-philippe-pinel-origens-historicas.html
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In conclusion, Juliano Moreira deserves all the respect due to his admirable heritage, acquisitions and example that promoted the development of medical sciences in Brazil, especially Psychiatry. This is all the more extraordinary given his humble origins and unfavorable ethnicity at the time, which makes him undeniably a genius of great intellectual complexion still praised 150 after his birth.

REFERENCES

  • 1
    Nardi AE, Carta MG, Shorter E. The remarkable Juliano Moreira (1872-1933): an Afro-Brazilian psychiatrist, scientist, and humanist in an environment of slavery and racism. Braz J Psychiatry. 2021;43(3):237-9.
  • 2
    Dicionário Histórico-Biográfico das Ciências da Saúde no Brasil (1832-1930). Rio de Janeiro: Casa de Oswaldo Cruz/Fiocruz. Available from: http://www.dichistoriasaude.coc.fiocruz.br/iah/pt/verbetes/morjul.htm
    » http://www.dichistoriasaude.coc.fiocruz.br/iah/pt/verbetes/morjul.htm
  • 3
    Facchinetti C, Cupello P, Evangelista DF. Arquivos Brasileiros de Psiquiatria, Neurologia e Ciências Afins: a source rich in history. História. Ciências, Saúde-Manguinhos. 2010;17:527-35.
  • 4
    Moraes MC. No canto do isolamento: loucura e tuberculose no Hospício Nacional de Alienados (1890-1930) [Tese]. [Internet]. Rio de Janeiro: Casa de Oswaldo Cruz/Fiocruz; 2020. Available from: https://ppghcs.coc.fiocruz.br/images/teses/TESE-Monica_Moraes-PPGHCS-1.pdf
    » https://ppghcs.coc.fiocruz.br/images/teses/TESE-Monica_Moraes-PPGHCS-1.pdf
  • 5
    Muñoz PFN. À luz do biológico: psiquiatria, neurologia e eugenia nas relações Brasil-Alemanha (1900-1942) [Tese]. [Internet]. Rio de Janeiro: Casa de Oswaldo Cruz/Fiocruz; 2015. Available from: https://ppghcs.coc.fiocruz.br/images/dissertacoes/teste/tese_pedro_munoz.pdf
    » https://ppghcs.coc.fiocruz.br/images/dissertacoes/teste/tese_pedro_munoz.pdf
  • 6
    Nóbrega C, Dias MA. O Campus da UFRJ na Praia Vermelha. Academia (FAU/UFRJ). 2006;7:20-3.
  • 7
    Unirio. Reitoria [Internet]. Rio de Janeiro: Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Available from: http://www.unirio.br/ceng/expo-fefieg-a-unirio/paginas/reitoria-1#portal-column-one
    » http://www.unirio.br/ceng/expo-fefieg-a-unirio/paginas/reitoria-1#portal-column-one
  • 8
    Gomes MM, Engelhardt E. Historical sketches of the beginnings of the academic “Mental and Nervous Diseases” in Brazil, and European influences. Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2013;71(8):562-5.
  • 9
    Muñoz PFN, Facchinetti C, Dias AAT. Suspeitos em observação nas redes da psiquiatria: o Pavilhão de Observações (1894-1930). Memorandum. 2011;20:83-104.
  • 10
    Ramos FAC, Geremias L. Instituto Philippe Pinel: origens históricas. Rio de Janeiro: Secretaria Municipal de Saúde e Defesa Civil, s/d. Available from: https://docplayer.com.br/5842109-Instituto-philippe-pinel-origens-historicas.html
    » https://docplayer.com.br/5842109-Instituto-philippe-pinel-origens-historicas.html

Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    25 Nov 2022
  • Date of issue
    2022

History

  • Received
    07 Oct 2022
  • Accepted
    01 Nov 2022
Instituto de Psiquiatria da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro Av. Venceslau Brás, 71 Fundos, 22295-140 Rio de Janeiro - RJ Brasil, Tel./Fax: (55 21) 3873-5510 - Rio de Janeiro - RJ - Brazil
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