DR. RIZAL In partial requirement in Philippine Institutions 100 By: Veana Faye M. Solanoy 2011-18494 December 11, 2014
Introduction
Jose Rizal is one of the best and multitalented men of his generation. He is one of th e most revered Filipino and known for his politically inclined works that set the fire for reclaiming freedom in the Philippines. These same writings led him to his execution b y the Spanish colonizers. For the past 150 years, Rizal has been a symbol of the Philippine independence. Many of the streets, roads, edifices and places were named after him. Though he may be best at his writings, Rizal also took different paths to nurture his abilities. He is a writer-a novelist, journalist, mason, and an activist. Little do all people know that Rizal is also a physician, an ophthalmologist. He trained under 2 renowned European ophthalmologists, Louis de Wecker and Otto Becker. This topic aims to discuss the life of Jose Rizal in the medical field, how he became one and how he practice being one. Review of Related Literature
The articles Jose Rizal: Physician and Philippine National Hero and Jose Rizal: Philippine National Hero and Ophthalmologist and Medicine stamps, written by Lapeña JF and Tracy Ravin, MD respectively tackled the Rizal’s education, training and p ractice as an ophthalmologist. These articles stated that Rizal’s love and dedication for his mother led him to the medical field. These also related Rizal’s training under two renowned Doctors- Drs. De Wecker and Becker. The practice of Rizal in three different places were also stated in these articles. The compilations of the letters to Rizal to his Family were translated by the National Historical Institute in Manila. These compilation was entitled 100 L etters of J ose Rizal to hi s . In this compilation, Rizal detailed every trip in Paris and Parents, B rothers, Sisters, Relati ves Germany. He also wrote clinical and ophthalmologic experiences including details about patients.
This is a good because Rizal was the one who originally wrote it. It was based on personal experiences. Rizal’s letters to Blumentritt were compiled and translated by the national Institute of Manila. The correspondence of Rizal and Blumentritt reflected a lot of Rizal’s thoughts and opinions. Professor Blumentritt was one of Rizal’s friends that he trusted enough to talk about the present experiences of his life. These letters served as an important source for information concerning Rizal’s practice, especially during his stay in Dapitan. In some letters Rizal detailed his experience with the surgery he has done with his mother, he talked about the success he has had during the operation and that his mother is now able to see. Discussion Roots and Early Life
José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonzo Realonda was born on June 19, 1861 in Calamba, Laguna. He was the 7th of the eleven children of Francisco Engracio Rizal Mercado y Alejandro and Teodora Morales Alonzo Realonda y Quintos. Theirs was a typical Filipino family, with a mixture of different races. According to Craig, “ H e was a typical F il ipi no, for f ew per sons in thi s lan d of mix ed blood could boast a greater mixture than his. All his ancestors … had been immi grants to the Phi li ppines, earl y M alays, and l ater Sumatr ans, Chi nese of prehistori c times and the refugees fr om the Tartar domini on, and Spaniar ds of ol d Castil e and Val encia — r epresentatives of all th e vari ous peoples who h ave blended to make the str ength of t he
Philippine race.” [3]
Rizal, although with 5 sisters to look after him had a personal servant or an aya as it was then. “Growing up Pepe was curious about the things around him. When his yaya Aquilina told
stor ies about th e aswang, nu no sa pun so and an im agin ary ghost call ed Bu by the Eu ropeans locall y known as parce-nobi s, Pepe listened attentively. H is yaya often scared hi m if he fai led to f in ish his meal. Pepe remembered those spooky stor ies even u ntil h e went to hi gh school , wri ting
in his Memorias de un Estudiante that everytime his yaya frightened him, ―…my heart was fed with sad thoughts.” [7]
Rizal’s family had a high regard for education which has been a fortunate and a stimulating atmosphere for the young Jose. The family owned a library with a thousand volume collection. His first teacher was his mother who taught him the abakada (the alphabet). His mother was relatively educated than the other women during those times. "My mother is a woman of more than average education” Rizal to Blummentritt. As a child, Rizal already excelled on things he does. Members of the family contributed to the holistic learning of the young Jose. “Three uncles, broth er s of the mother, concer ned themselves with the in tell ectual, ar tistic and physical tr ain in g
of this promising nephew.” [7] On the later years, his father got Leon Monroy, a former classmate
to be Rizal’s private tutor. Monroy taught him to read and write and gave him an early lessons on the rudiments of Latin. According to the memorias of Rizal, “The schoolmaster was a tall, thin man wi th a l ong neck and a sharp nose... He knew Lati n an d Spanish grammar by heart; but hi s sever it y I believe now, was too great.”
Education
At the age of 9, Rizal was brought to Binan. His schoolmaster was Justiniano Aquino Cruz who according to Rizal was a strict disciplinarian. Rizal stayed only a few months at Binan and was advised by his master to transfer to Manila. Rizal was told that he knew as much as the m aster.
Education according to Rizal is part of improving the lives of the people in the Philippines. He was so fortunate that he was one of the first people to experience the kind o f education inspired by the Western culture. This kind of Education was the result of the change in educationl system when Filipinos asked for changes during the late 18th century.[2] His secondary education was at the Jesuit run Ateneo Municipal de Manila in 1872 . At first, the administrator refused to admit him because one of the reasons is that he was physically weak and small at the age of eleven, but eventually was accepted through the intersection of fr. Manuel X. Burgos. Rizal took up subjects like Religious Studies, Mathematics, Sciences, Languages, Geography, and History. Before turning 16, he graduated from Ateneo finishing his high school education.[7] “On the r ecommendati on of D r . M anu el X er es Bu rgos, nephew of th e un f ortu nate F r . Bur gos ... the
difficulties were smoothed over and I was admitted.” (Rizal, Memorias) College and Medicine
In the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas (UST), Rizal took up Medicine and studied Agriculture in the Ateneo simultaneously. He got the degree of “Land Surveyor and Agricultural Expert” from the Ateneo but unfortunately did not finish the degree in Medicine at UST due to the predudices of the friars with the native students. He, with the help of his brother Paciano left for Europe to study further, though there were other reasons of his voyage apart from that. Rizal continued his study in Medicine and in philosophy and letters at the Central University of Madrid. “ Th e onl y balm he foun d for homesickn ess was har d work. H e never fai led in h is classes, th ough in M adri d he carr ied two courses sim ul taneously. I n M edicin e he received " fair" in two subjects, " good" in four, and " excell ent" in two. I n hi s course in Philosophy and L etters he received " good" in one (H istory of Spain), " very good" in one, " excell ent" in four , " excell ent with pri ze"
in one (Greek and L atin L iterature), and " excell ent with fr ee
scholarship" in two (Spanish Literature and the Arabic language).” [13] He got his licenciates in
medicine on 1884.[9,10] Rizal methodically took note of all his clinical experiences as a senior student in the Hospital of San Carlos and Hospital de la Prinsesa, Madrid. The compilations of his notes were called “Apuntes de Clinica” and “Apuntes de Clinicas Quirurgica”. The notes contain details of lectures and case histories-histories of patients, physical findings, diagnosis, treatments, medication, diets, autopsy and even his own observations and comments. This showed how Rizal has been a keen observer. Rizal did not merely listen to what his professors said but he had the initiative to correct whatever mistakes his professors commit by commenting on his notes. His notes had the reflection of an honest medical student. He never became a slave to authority.[9,10] Rizal aimed for a doctorate degree in medicine but unfortunately did not receive it. He completed his thesis but cannot suffice the requirements of the University that he must red it personally and allowed. During the time he completed his thesis for the degree he ws lready in Germany, studying ophthalmology. He cannot anymore afford to go back to Spain. “as to the Doctorate, sin ce it is necessary f or m e to go to M adri d to get i t, I shall see if I wil l have money
o make the round trip … At any rate, I shall pay for the title and I shall send my thesis with left t the object of f in din g out if they want to admit me in th is manner with out th e necessity of
presenting myself personally.” (Rizal, Memorias) Rizal was 24 years old when he completed his
degree in medicine. But he was at last José Rizal, A.B., Ph.M., L.C.M. Paciano was so proud of his brother that he wanted to send Rizal the money. Paciano toiled and saved unselfishly but could gain at most only one or two pesos a day. Rizal had to wait three more years before his brother could send him enough money to become "Dr. Rizal".[6]
Rizal, the Ophthalmologists
Many of us know the reason why Rizal had decided to study ophthalmology, it was in the hope of curing his mother’s failing eyesight. His love and dedication for his mother had driven him to be an ophthalmologist. Rizal being a hero and an ophthalmologist were partly linked. Rizal’s passion of wanting to cure his mother’s eyesight and his passion to give vision to the country was quite in the same level. Paciano, Rizal’s older brother also influenced him to take up Medicine instead of law. Paciano send Rizal a letter stating that lawyers defend cases and were paid even though they contradict ethical theories.[5] In the late 19th century, ophthalmology was already a separate branch in medicine. It was one of the first branches to be established but still there were no rigid residency programs. All post-graduate training was held by well-known professors. Rizal’s first training was in the care of one of the best ophthalmologist in France, Louis de Wecker. De Wecker has no acad emic position but he is so renowned because of his contribution in the field of Ophtalmology. He is the major proponent of ophthalmoscopy and advance ocular surgery in France. According to de Ocampo, during Rizal’s time, doctors who trained in the clinic of de Wecker became famous on their hometown and many patients, mostly royalty came over for treatment. Rizal was a “refined, f ri endl y and i ndustri ous man who was held i n hi gh esteem by Dr . de Wecker and h is coll eagues
in the clinic.” [4] On his letter to his parents, Rizal “from 50 to 100 patients go daily to the clinic… Th ere are days when th ey perf orm as many as ten major operations”. He also said that “I know
already how to perform all kinds of operations.”
“ I n the past days, a young woman, tal l, t all er than myself for at least on e palm, very elegant, beauti f ul , with a bad white eye, that could n ot see, went there also. Wecker h ad to
ye which was not hard to do, but only needs time.” blacken h er e
[11]
Rizal was impressed with de Wecker’s surgical skills and he wanted to also improve his skills. But living in Paris is highly expensive so he should find somewhere else to train. He also expresses the need “to be tr ain ed in the study of what i s goin g on at th e bottom of th e eye that ,” leading him to Germany. r equi res much pr actice From Paris, Rizal transferred to Heidelberg where he stayed for 6 months (February 3August 9, 1886). 300 meters away from University of Heidelberg, Rizal first resided. Not far from the Building was Augen Klinic, an Eye Center which was under the provision of Dr. Otto Becker. After 15 days, Rizal transferred to a 3-storey building which was across a square of the University. The building was called Ludwigs Platz. He specifically lived at room no. 12.[5] Rizal in search for a good professor of Ophthalmology, asked a group of students at the Guldon Bierbrauerie which Rizal suppose was beer salon. They directed Rizal to the Augen Klinic.The Klinic was under the supervision of Dr. Otto Becker. He was not as famous as Dr. de Wecker of Paris nor did he contribute much to the field of Ophthalmology. Rizal while in Paris, already studied German words and by the time he was in Germany, he can already understand some of the words and he hoped to speak German well enough after 6 months. He wrote his parents on March 11, 1886 “I continue assisting at the hospital and studying … Ophthalmology and German… In the hospital I practice and examine patients who come every day. The professor corrects our mistakes in diagnosis; I help in the treatment …”
[11]
Rizal was not really convince on the practices in Germany making him think of trvelling to Europe and going back to Paris where he was more satisfied on the training of Dr. de Wecker. From Paris he planned to return to the Philippines. Rizal went home to the Philippines on 1887. Although Rizal’s letter only revealed 2 professors of Ophthalmology in whom he trained. Other biographers released statements that Rizal also visited the clinics of Drs Sulzer and Schweiger in Berlin. Bantug also mentioned that Rizal visited Ernst Fuchs clinic in Vienna. Going back to the Philippines, Rizal was quite confident of building his own clinic. It is evident on the equipment he owned during those times. In the span of his training, Rizal was also preoccupied by a lot of things including his novel Noli M e Tanger e . But even though Rizal had been doing a lot of things, he managed to learn all things under masters and best doctors of his time he needed to practice as an eye doctor. Medical Practice
Rizal practiced Ophthalmology mainly in three p laces – Calamba (August 1887 – February 1888), Hong Kong (November 1891 – June 1892), and while in exile, in Dapitan (July 1892 – July 1896) (De Ocampo, 1962). Rizal in his diary stated that he also treated patients in Dumaguete, Cebu and Iloilo when the boat that he was in stopped on those places. “I met Rizal in San Miguel de Mayumo, endorsed him an eye patient Lorenzo Tuazon of Malabon who wanted to go to Calamba. Later on in Madrid, he operated on this patient on one eye.” this is the statement of Viola, who was Rizal’s company in his travel to Europe.[5]
In Calamba
Rizal practiced in Calamba for more not more than a year (August 1887-February 1888). His first patient was his mother, though it was known clearly and certainly stated whether or not he operated on his mother in Calamba. He was famous at the town as Doctor Uliman for he recently arrived from Germany. Rizal, true to his words opened a clinic. The news spread in town that the Doctor Uliman was giving sight to the blind.[5] A man wanted to know who Doctor Uliman was, expecting he was a blond with long beard was disappointed when he saw Dr. Rizal. While practicing at Calamba as an eye specialist, many patients were attracted. These patients are from Calamba and other nearby towns. Also, patients from Manila consulted to him. He operated Capt. Eusebio Elepaño for enucleation of one eyeball for glaucoma. He charged Elepaño P1,000 for the operation. During his practice in Calamba, Bantu g stated that Rizal earned P5,000. His charges were very considerate yet he earned enough amount to suffice his second travel to Europe. Of all the cases Rizal treated, he was successful but one. This was the case of his sister, Olympia. The case was one of placenta praevia which even today was very difficult to cure. He did not cure his Sister because of limited resources in the locality. Rizal was so disappointed and thought of leaving the profession of medicine. His favorite prescription was Fowler’s solution according to Bantug. It was taken in fivedrop doses everyday increasing by one to two drops until it reached twenty. In Hongkong
Rizal was known in Hongkong s the Spanish Doctor. Rizal got an apartment where he utilized as residence and clinic. One of Rizal’s purposes of practicing his medicine profession in
Hongkong was to earn a living. “I shall exercise my profession until I shall have a small capital to li ve fr eely and not depend on casual ty. Probably in the fi rst few month s I shal l earn l itt le unti l
I shall be known” – Rizal .
Rizal became friends with Dr. Lorenzo Pereyra Marquez, a practitioner in general medicine. He referred cases on diseases of the eyes to Rizal. In his practice in Hongkong, Rizal fulfilled his longtime dream of curing his mother’s eyesight. He operated Dona Lolay’s left eye. According to Ravin, he probably conducted iridectomy as preliminary to cataract extraction but this was uncertain. In 1892, he successfully removed the cataract on his mother’s eye. Rizal’s letter to Blumentritt revealed that: “my old blind mother is also here fleeing from tyranny,” “my mother can read and write and my father again enjoys the warm climate.” [12] In Dapitan
While Rizal was practicing his medical profession, he continued to work on achieving reforms and equality under the law. He decided to go back to the Philippines though his family and friends discouraged him. Not long after he stepped on the soil of Manila, he was quickly arrested and soon after, he was exiled to Dapitan. He stayed in Dapitan for 4 years. Here in Dapitan, he had most of his medical practices, not only focusing on his eye expertise but also on general practices. His patients came not only from the Philippines but also from different countries. One of his letters to Blumentritt stated that “I am annoyed with patients and I cannot finish much work which I have started”. Another
letter he wrote on March 14, 1895 was for Dr. Meyer to whom he revealed that he wanted to change his place of exile because he had so many patients. “Rizal to his mother on November 21, 1985 “Here I had so many patients from Capiz, Siquijor and Misamis. Tomorrow, I shall open an eye and cut th e leg of another. A ll th e other h ouses are occupi ed. They are poor . I t is said
egros is coming. This will pay.” {11] . Rizal also was recommended that another Spaniar d fr om N
by different personalities. Patients came with letters saying that they recommend to take Rizal’s care. We cannot deny the fact that one of the famous patients of Dr. Jose Rizal was the stepfather of the last woman in his life, who was also very controversial. This was Mr. George Taufer. He was an American Engineer based in Hongkong. He brought with him a letter from Julio Llorente recommending Rizal to cure the eyes of Taufer. Josephine Bracken accompanied Mr. Taufer. They went to Manila to see Dr. Rizal but unfortunately Rizal was not there. They stayed at Manila for almost seven months and later came to Da pitan. They occupied the house near Rizal’s residence. Rizal also had D. Florencio Azzaraga as his patient in Dapitan who was looking for an artificial eyeglass ball. The eyeball which Rizal enucleated to Azzaraga was kept by his son who promised to donate it to Dr. Bantug. Bantug later on forwarded it to Fort Santiago. Rizal, as a doctor had a considerate rates for his professional fee. If the patient is from the town, which is Dapitan, Rizal did not charge him. If Rizal’s patient is foreign, he charged according to the wealth of the patient. One patient paid Rizal P500 and Rizal dedicated it to the lighting of Dapitan which the town did not have until such time. In Dapitan, part of Rizal’s property were the “casas de salud”, these are several small houses located near the bay at Talisay. Patients and their familes used these when at Dapitan. It
was usually occupied by patients with eye problems. The operation though was done in the big house where Rizal lived. Taufer and Josephine stayed in one “casas de salud” near Rizal’s. In Dapitan, Rizal accepted students whom he taught for several months, year even. These students paid nothing but rendered him services. The services was even part of the training of students too. According to the son of the late Gov Aseniero, Rizal trained one or two of his students to assist him in his operations. Rizal as a physician also treated diseases apart from his ophthalmologic cap abilities. “Here me well, thank God” [11] . On November we have had many pati ents, many operati ons, etc. All beco
21,1895, he prescribed medications to his to his sister Trinidad for her rheumatism. He told his sister Lucia on February 12, 1896 that he will operate the tongue of Tan in a few days. Rizal’s performed his last operation for his mother in Dapitan. He operated the right eye of his mother and removed the cataract. There were some discrepancies on the evidences of the chronological events on the operation of Rizal to his mother. But according to Bantug, there were evidences that the first operation he did for cataract was already in Hongkong and not in Calamba. He may only have checked his mother’s eyes in Calamba but for a different disease. This was evident in Rizal’s letters to his family. Rizal’s operations to his mother were love-driven. The operations he performed were of unique operation of his time. Rizal’s Instruments
R izal’s operating instruments had ivory handles with leather carrying case. These were obtained from Mon Charriere Collin in Paris. His instruments were of high quality and he took good care of them as reflected to one of his letters to Josephine saying that she should keep his instruments in order so that these may not get rusty.
Pignometer and Refraction set were Rizal’s two of the many instruments. The pignometer, no so different from the pignometer was used b y Rizal for distillation and disinfection. This was a gift given by Sorotklet, a chemist whom he knew from ophthalmology class. The refraction set was obtained from Enrique Montinola with the help of his sister Trining.[5] Rizal’s contemporaries
Aside from Rizal, there were other students from the Philippines who studied in Madrid the same time Rizal was studying there. They were Dr. Viola, Dr. Roxas, Dr. Bautista-Lim and Dr. Tavera. One of the famous medical contemporaries of Rizal was Dr. Lorenzo Pereyra Marquez. He was the same person who acknowledged Rizal’s expertise on the field of ophthalmology in Hongkong. The idea that Rizal was the first Filipino ophthalmologists was not quite accurate, but he being the first well-known Filipino ophthalmologist is. There were evidenc es revealing that there was one pioneer ophthalmologic doctor by the name Dr. Joaquin Gonzales. He is the father of the late president Bienvenido Gonzales of the University of the Philippines. Conclusion
Rizal was an ophthalmologist and a physician. Entering the world of Medicine is not a kind of thing that you decide on impulsive attitude because it requires commitment and dedication. Rizal had both the desire to be economically stable and to help cure the people including those that were dear to him and eventually those that needed his help. Rizal’s motivation in taking up medicine was his love and dedication for his mother. His brother, Paciano, also influenced him to take up medicine instead of Law. He learned to his chosen
path and spent time, effort and money to get the best training he could ever receive. He rendered his services to the people which he enjoyed doing. Success is a broad and an inaccurate term to define. The term itself is very subjective. I could not for fact conclude that Rizal was successful in being an Ophthalmologist. He may be at some point fulfilled about the practice he had done, after all his dream was to just cure his mother’s failing eyesight. Serving the people, with the people satisfied with his services were only plus points. Recommendation
This articles had accessed and consulted limited number of journals. It is highly recommended to delve deeper on other written works about the topic. It would be best to access more on the original works and letters of Dr. Jose Rizal. It is also suggested to study about the ethical and legal issues of practicing medicine during Rizal’s time. Is practicing inside and outside of the Philippines legal for Dr. Jose Rizal? These things were not mentioned in this study. It is highly recommended to compare the education Doctors then and Doctors now undergone. What were the similarities and what chan ged as times passed.
References:
1. Bantug. RIZAL, SCHOLAR AND SCIENTIST. Manila, 1946 2. Constantino, A History of the Philippines, 129-145 3. Craig A. Lineage, Life, and Labors of Jose Rizal, Philippine Patriot, Philippine Education Company, 1913. 4. De Ocampo G. Dr Rizal, Ophthalmic Surgeon. Man ila: Philippine Graphic Arts, Inc, 1962. 5. De Ocampo G, Fernando A, Sevilla C, Tamesis J. Dr. Jose Rizal: Ophthalmologist. International Congress on Rizal: 4-8 Dec. 1961; Data Papers. Edition 2. National Historical Institute, 1979 6. Epistolario Rizalino, ( 1930-1938) Manila: Bureau of Printing 7. Gregorio F. Tidbits on a Boy Named Pepe 8. Guerrero LM. The First Filipino: A Biography of Jose Rizal. National Historical Institute Edition. Manila: National Historical Institute, 1963; Guerrero Publishing, 1998. 9. Lapeña JF. 2011. Medicine in Stamps Jose Protacio Rizal (1861-1896): Physician and Philippine national Hero. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, College of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila 10. Ravin TB. José Rizal: Philippine national hero and ophthalmologist. Arch Ophthalmol 2001; 119:280-4. 11. Rizal J. 100 Letters of Jose Rizal to his Parents, Brothers, Sisters, Relatives. Manila: Philippine National Historical Society, 1959. 12. Rizal, J. 1998. Rizal-Blumentritt Correspondence: How it Started 110 year ago (50 selected letters between Rizal and Blumentritt). Manila: The National Historical Institute. Translated into English by Encarnacion Alzona
13. Russell, Charles E. and Rodgriguez., Eugilio B. (1923) The Hero of the Philippines. New York: Century Company 14. Zaide, G.F, and Zaide S.M. 1997. Jose Rizal: Buhay, mga ginawa at mga sinulat ng isang henyo, manunulat, siyentipiko, at pambansang bayani. All-Natioins Publishing Co. Inc