History of neurology in São Paulo at the first half of the 20th century: a systematic review

Abstract

Neurology in São Paulo was initiated at the beginning of the XX century, with the creation of the Paulista School of Medicine. This article aims to analyze the emergence of Neurology in the state of São Paulo and the influences it received. To this end, we conducted a systematic search in an electronic database, Scielo. In this context, in the 20th century, neurology studied in São Paulo was greatly influenced by the science practiced in France, since in 1882 the specialty was initiated at the University of Paris. Discussions about the diseases in this area were discussed at the Santa Casa de Misericórdia in São Paulo. Another important place for the development of neurology in São Paulo was the creation of the neuropathology and cerebrospinal fluid laboratory, in 1924, at the Hospital de Juqueri. In the 1920s, the teaching of clinical neurology was created at the Faculty of Medicine by Enjolras Vampré, known as the father of neurology in São Paulo. In the 1930s, there were major changes in the areas of brain pathology, diagnosis of diseases that affect the central nervous system, and therapy. All of this was used at Hospital de Juqueri and Faculdade Paulista de Medicina. Among the prominent methods used were pneumoencephalography, cerebral arteriography, and cerebral leucotomy. Some literary works were fundamental for the dissemination of knowledge of Neurology in the society of São Paulo, namely “Memories of the Hospital of Juqueri” from 1924 and “Archives of Assistance to Psychopaths” from 1936. Neurology underwent a major evolution at the end of the first half of the twentieth century, however, it became expensive and inaccessible to a large part of the population, especially at a time before the creation of the Unified Health System, making the poorest marginalized concerning the treatment of neurological diseases that affected the society of São Paulo at the time.