Resumen

BELAUSTEGUI FERNANDEZ, A.. Distinguished Protagonists in the history of the Spanish Medical service: Fernando Weyler y Laviña. Sanid. Mil. [online]. 2011, vol.67, suppl.1, pp.239-251. ISSN 1887-8571.  https://dx.doi.org/10.4321/S1887-85712011000300004.

Fernando Weyler y Laviña was an eminent military physician, PhD in Surgery, academic, botanist and remarkable writer, who has perhaps been overshadowed by his son's great personality Valeriano, Army General, among other military and civilian responsibilities. But his professional, scientific and intellectual trajectory does not compare unfavorably with his son's, although history has placed him in a secondary position. Weyler was born during the Spanish War of Independence, an era of great upheaval in our country. He completed his primary education in Montpellier, moving later to Barcelona where he finished his baccalaureate and started his medical studies, carrying them out simultaneously in Paris. Once he had obtained his medical degree in 1829 and his PhD in 1831, he took the competitive examination to join the Medical Service. His brilliant military career started in Palma de Majorca and later at his own request was appointed to the Philippines. He returned to Spain due to illness and was appointed Professor in the Army Staff in Catalonia. He participated in numerous military operations during the Carlist War between the years 1838-1840 when he was awarded several decorations for his outstanding performance. He carried out an important work in the military hospital in Palma de Majorca and in 1850 became Chief of the Medical Service in the Balearic Islands. In 1859 he was designated Chief of the Medical Service of the Observation Corps in the North African coast, based in Ceuta, and participated in the battle of Wad-Ras. In 1863 he was nominated Commissioned Inspector for the hospitals and personnel in Melilla and later transferred to Palma de Majorca where he was responsible for the Subinspection of the Balearic Islands. In 1869 he was promoted to the rank of Medical Inspector and appointed Chief of the Medical Service in Catalonia. In this year he was appointed member of the Royal Academy of Sciences and Arts of Barcelona. In 1872 he was transferred to Madrid as Secretary of the Direction General, and was transferred back to Palma de Majorca with the rank of Medical Inspector 1^st class and President of the Superior Medical Council. In the same year he was appointed member of the Royal Academy of Medicine of Madrid. In 1875 he retired from the military after more than forty years of service. In 1878 he was elected President of the Academy of Medicine and Surgery of Palma de Majorca. Among his many publications the following ones can be highlighted: "Elements of Botany. Anatomical and physiological description of the parts of the plants in their different functions and main methods for classification" (1843); "Report on purulent ophthalmia suffered by our troops" (1851); "Physico-medical topography of the Balearic Islands and in particular of Majorca" (1854); "Organic history of Majorca military units since its conquest in 1229 until today" (1862) among others.

Palabras clave : Weyler y Laviña; Medical Service; Military Hospital of Majorca; Royal Academy of Medicine of the Balearic Islands; Royal Academy of Medicine of Madrid.

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