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The University of São Paulo Medical School
Proudly Presents
Sponsored by
Chieftain Medicinal Cigarettes
and with the support of the Brazilian
Press and Propaganda Department
Utilizing video from:
To the teachers who dedicated their lives
and patients who gave their lives
for a Medical Education of the highest degree
The Time Capsule
To be shown only after the
School's centennial
Greetings from older times
I imagine that those now watching me
no longer recognize me
for I am Dr. Benedito Montenegro
current principal of the Medical School
and I speak to you live
from the year 1944
Through the technological miracle
that is cinematography
we were able to produce a small narrative
of the great history
of our School
which today is 32 years old
Our goal is to preserve the film
in a sort of time capsule
to be opened only at
the school's centennial
in approximately 70 years
What you are about to see
is a compendium
of the great achievements
of our institution
academic, scientific
political and professional
Through the last decades
So that our successors
never forget how easily
values and priorities change
and the tenacity with which the product
of hard work and inspiration last
Watch...
The city of São Paulo
capital of the state of the same name
by the beginning XXth century
was nothing less than
the economical center of Brazil
with the unhindered growth of
coffee plantations
and the birth of industry
hundreds of thousands of immigrants
come from around the world to be a part of
the astronomical Paulistinian progress
leading to a urban agglomeration
without precedent in history
The medical and sanitation authorities
soon realize
the alarming hazardous
health conditions
derived from the cosmopolitan conglomerate
and with the constant presence of the government
take the necessary actions
without delay
Among the authorities
is one of the most important names
of the paulistinian epic
Dr. Arnaldo Vieira de Carvalho
Graduated from the Rio de Janeiro
Medical School in 1888
and soon standing out in his public service
Dr. Arnaldo took the
reins of the scientific
progress of XXth century in São Paulo
defending the need to create
a medical school
and the importance of him heading it
Thus, he heroically brought to the attention
of the governor Rodrigues Alves
coincidently, a good friend of his father's
to the project of the São Paulo
Medical and Surgical School
leading to the solemn signing in 1912
of the decree determining the creation of the
São Paulo Medical
and Surgical School
The following year
the school has it's inaugural class
at the Polytechnic school
and begins its activities at the Alvares
Penteado school of commerce
Of the 180 registered students
in the preliminary course
58 are expelled for skipping class
42 for indiscipline
and 36 due to academic merit
We failed, the first class was failed,
we didn't know we had to
sign in for our friends
there were to tests from the previous year
we failed!
Though absent from the class room
the students dedicated themselves to numerous
extra-curricular activities
founding during the very first year
the Oswaldo Cruz Academic Center
and later on
the Academic Athletic Center
student body institutions
of excellence and tradition
just as essential to the student's academic experience
as the course itself
The Medical leagues were also created
such as the famous league against syphilis
and the less famous, league
against depression
Other traditions were also born
among the students
such as the terrible practice of hazing
in which seniors cowardly
forced freshmen to turn their
blazers inside-out
profoundly humiliating them
The school keeps a close eye
on the international scientific and medical progress
such as
the first latex gloves
e modern surgical techniques
which minimize an operation's duration
and the chance of infection
many surgeons asked that
music be played while they worked
to better deal
with the pressure
To guarantee the scientific basis
of the professionals born
of the new institution
providing a curriculum that went
beyond clinical experience
Dr Arnaldo, with the help of the
Rockefeller foundation
institutes the basic tier classes
inviting a variety of foreign
professionals to teach them
Among the professors brought
from the old continent
who without a doubt stood out
immortalizing himself along side
the history of the institution
was Professor Alfonso Bovero
Coming from Turin by invitation of Dr Arnaldo
professor Bovero ascended to the cathedra
of anatomy and histology
lecturing the medical students
with a memorable austerity and tenderness
The unequaled anatomist expanded
the Brazilian medical knowledge
in a surprising way
inspiring dozens of generations to come
with his genius and dedication
Yes professor?
What's this?
The intestines professor
But what part?
If you don't know, don't speak!
To the corner
Dunce
With Dr. Arnaldo's leadership
and with the resources from the Rockefeller Foundation
the medical school would quickly grow
using the Santa Casa da Misericórdia
of São Paulo
to give its clinical lessons
and give to the students
a legitimate medical experience
returning to the community professionals
of the highest degree
capable of guaranteeing
the paulistinian progress
In 1918,
the students and doctors would prove their worth
with the arrival of the terrible Spanish Flu
Costing millions of lives
around the globe
the Flu's reach was equaled
only by the terror it generated
among the population and medical community
which did not stop the professionals
of the medical school
from helping the devastated society
leading to the relief of some suffering
and the heroic death of one of the
students after being infected
However,
the greatest tragedy was still to come
In the year of 1920, Dr. Arnaldo
while performing a routine procedure
is tragically contaminated
by work of another's amateurism
Within a few days
the illustrious doctor grows incredibly ill
and dozens of his disciples and followers
flock to be alongside him
and attempt a cure
without success
"Let it be known
that the most important thing in this life
in this profession, and this faculty
are those, who are our future
The stu...
On the 5th of June 1920
Dr Arnaldo passes away, victim of sepsis
and a national hero leaves this institution
and enters history
...I think what Dr Arnaldo
meant to say in his final words
was that the most important thing were
the scientific studies
in his honor
we will be substituting in the project
for the next faculty
the many classrooms designated for
towards the medical students
for scientific laboratories
After a few days of grieving,
the professors soon begin the methodical
and solemn process of choosing a successor
Going through 4 principals in a few years
the faculty finds stability in
Pedro Dias da Silva, personal friend
to the Governor Carlos de Campos
Fights for parts of the curriculum
and departments had
become frequent
leading frustrated teachers to create
institutes of less prestige
and doubtful reputations
but for those determined to maintain
the eternal climb to greatness
the next step for the School was
the construction of its home building
which delayed by the political turbulence
and the succession process
could now we put into effect
1931 marks the inauguration
of the building
which throughout the next decades
would house the São Paulo
Medical School
Here, the sons of Arnaldo
would find a home
finally boasting proper facilities
for teaching the medical profession
with resources at their hand
for learning and research
as well as ample space
for rest and relaxation
Good afternoon, I am at one of the modern
teaching laboratories of the São Paulo
School of Medicine and Surgery
We shall now talk to one of the students
Good afternoon, future doctor
how do you feel using such
advanced technology?
I came here to see sick people
not a bunch of colored
blots in an old spying glass...
Thank you, thank you
Even though another victory
had been added to the House of Arnaldo
treacherous times were
just around the corner
Brazil and the rest of the world
had undergone immeasurable transformations
With the New York
the Coffee plantation
oligarchies would also fall
and Getúlio Vargas
had risen to power
ruling over Brazil with and iron hand
intolerant to ideological dissidents
and regional sovereignty
bringing with him
an unconstitutional government
which would lead to the Great Revolution of 1932
The department of Press and propaganda
of Brazil interrupts this movie
for the good of the citizen
This scene has been replaced
by a great cake recipe
Fubá cake: 2 cups of sugar,
1 cup of mil, 2 cups of flower...
No other changes have been made
to the rest of the movie
In 1932, the cowardly forces of São Paulo
thirsty for power attack the
legitimate and pacifist government
of the great Getúlio Vargas
the naive population, manipulated by
the occult forces of São Paulo
is aided by the doctors of the School
in the besieged city and on the front lines
Many students volunteer or are volunteered
to the cause, as well as teachers
Among the students who honorably
gave their lives are
Gustavo Seppi and José Greff Borba
who heroically sacrificed himself in a
training exercise
when a faulty grenade detonated
With the glorious victory of the Getúlio Vargas forces
and the return of peace to São Paulo
its state sees the necessity to
build its strength anew
and in the intellectual sphere, creates
the University of São Paulo
The first sessions of the University
Council are held in the majestic
Congregation room of the School
with the main figures using the
robes utilized by the
Medical Cathedra
The first dean, Reinaldo Porchat
is elected
and to USP, they subvert the
the Medical School, the Polytechnic school
São Francisco Law school, as well as
pharmacy and odontology faculty,
veterinarian, agricultural
philosophy, sciences and writing schools
It is then given the name
The University of São Paulo
Medical School
and making good use of its new facilities
of the total support of the Paulistinian government
and the international scientific
and medical progress
its unhindered ascension to
greatness continues
The long awaited construction of
the Clinicas Hospital
anticipated for decades
are restarted in 1938
with the support of the federal intervener
Ademar Pereira de Barros
which after inaugurating the building's headstone
was received by the students of the School
in its main theatre
with much joy and gratitude
sharing with him the view of excellency
in the surgical and clinical education of the School
as well as in the quality of the healthcare
given to the population
without equal in the rest of the country
Ademar Pereira de Barros
another satisfied customer of the
Chieftain Medical Cigarettes
nothing beats tuberculosis quite like it
With the completion of the
Clinicas Hospital this year, in 1944
the sky's the limit for the FMUSP institution
its teachers, alumni
and students
which at this exact moment
raise the flag of freedom
in the fight against fascism in Europe
What would be of our city
and of the National Healthcare
without this testament to mankind's
scientific capabilities
and may every Paulista rest safe
knowing that his future is in good hands
with the São Paulo Medical School beside him
Quality healthcare and medical education
without one we can't have the other
without FMUSP we have none!
We've reached the end
When I showed the movie you've just
watched to the faculty's congregation
this year, of 1944
it was accompanied by a solemn silence
and its end received with
respectful applause
however, I imagine that for you
who watch it after so much time has passed
the temptation to let slip a
laugh or some criticism
may have overpowered you
and why not?
Our great accomplishments probably
seem small next to the
many opportunities brought
by the future
our hopes about the unknown
either came to pass, or died out
in a way which might eventually seem obvious
our idiosyncrasies
imperceptible to ourselves
become clear with time
I accept this fact
as do I accept I will not be
among you for the centennial
my only doubt is if you
accept the critique from those who will come
in a hundred years
Echoing in your present
coming from those who will feel first hand
how much you kept yourself
from working for a better future
How much your individualism
kept you from doing a greater good
Well, who am I to criticize
in 70 years there might now even
be a Medical School anymore
Well, I hope you all
enjoyed yourselves, and, maybe
learned something new
It has been a pleasure and great honor
to talk to you all
and to be so close and so far
at the same time
All the best
and farewell
Translation by Raphael de Luca e Tuma