Luis Simarro Lacabra
Encyclopedia
Luis Simarro Lacabra was a Spanish psychiatrist
who was born in Rome
while his parents were living in Italy.
He studied medicine in Valencia and Madrid
, and in 1877 was appointed director of the Santa Isabel insane asylum at Leganés
, outside of Madrid. From 1880 he lived in Paris
and studied general anatomy
and histology
with Louis-Antoine Ranvier
and clinical neurology
under Jean Martin Charcot. Here he also came under the influence of philosopher Ernest Renan
(1823-1892). physician Mathias-Marie Duval
(1844-1907) and psychiatrist Valentin Magnan
(1835-1916). In 1885 he returned to Madrid and opened a private practice, and in 1902 was appointed to the first chair of experimental psychology
in Spain.
As a psychiatrist, Simarro was heavily influenced by developments in Germany, particularly Emil Kraepelin
's classification and treatment of the insane, Wilhelm Wundt
's theory of experimental psychology
and Theodor Ziehen
's critical analysis of Wundt's approach to psychology.
Notwithstanding his work in psychiatry, Simarro is largely remembered for a contribution made in histology when he developed a silver bromide
modification of Camillo Golgi
's silver chromate
technique. Famed Spanish histologist Ramon y Cajal recognized Simarro's achievement, and mentioned that it was a milestone that allowed him to abandon general histology and to focus on neurohistology.
Psychiatrist
A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. All psychiatrists are trained in diagnostic evaluation and in psychotherapy...
who was born in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
while his parents were living in Italy.
He studied medicine in Valencia and Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, and in 1877 was appointed director of the Santa Isabel insane asylum at Leganés
Leganés
Leganés is a city in central Spain. Part of the greater Madrid conurbation - mainly a satellite-city with a population of 186,066 it is located about 11 km southwest of the city centre....
, outside of Madrid. From 1880 he lived in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and studied general anatomy
Anatomy
Anatomy is a branch of biology and medicine that is the consideration of the structure of living things. It is a general term that includes human anatomy, animal anatomy , and plant anatomy...
and histology
Histology
Histology is the study of the microscopic anatomy of cells and tissues of plants and animals. It is performed by examining cells and tissues commonly by sectioning and staining; followed by examination under a light microscope or electron microscope...
with Louis-Antoine Ranvier
Louis-Antoine Ranvier
Louis-Antoine Ranvier was a French physician, pathologist, anatomist and histologist, who discovered nodes of Ranvier, regularly spaced constrictions of the myelin sheath, occurying at varying intervals along the length of a nerve fiber.Ranvier was born and studied medicine at Lyon, graduating in...
and clinical neurology
Neurology
Neurology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the nervous system. Specifically, it deals with the diagnosis and treatment of all categories of disease involving the central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous systems, including their coverings, blood vessels, and all effector tissue,...
under Jean Martin Charcot. Here he also came under the influence of philosopher Ernest Renan
Ernest Renan
Ernest Renan was a French expert of Middle East ancient languages and civilizations, philosopher and writer, devoted to his native province of Brittany...
(1823-1892). physician Mathias-Marie Duval
Mathias-Marie Duval
Mathias-Marie Duval was a French professor of anatomy and histology born in Grasse. He was the son of botanist Joseph Duval-Jouve .He studied medicine in Paris, and later served as prosector in Strassburg...
(1844-1907) and psychiatrist Valentin Magnan
Valentin Magnan
Valentin Magnan was a French psychiatrist who was a native of Perpignan.He studied medicine in Lyon and Paris, where he was a student of Jules Baillarger and Jean-Pierre Falret...
(1835-1916). In 1885 he returned to Madrid and opened a private practice, and in 1902 was appointed to the first chair of experimental psychology
Experimental psychology
Experimental psychology is a methodological approach, rather than a subject, and encompasses varied fields within psychology. Experimental psychologists have traditionally conducted research, published articles, and taught classes on neuroscience, developmental psychology, sensation, perception,...
in Spain.
As a psychiatrist, Simarro was heavily influenced by developments in Germany, particularly Emil Kraepelin
Emil Kraepelin
Emil Kraepelin was a German psychiatrist. H.J. Eysenck's Encyclopedia of Psychology identifies him as the founder of modern scientific psychiatry, as well as of psychopharmacology and psychiatric genetics. Kraepelin believed the chief origin of psychiatric disease to be biological and genetic...
's classification and treatment of the insane, Wilhelm Wundt
Wilhelm Wundt
Wilhelm Maximilian Wundt was a German physician, psychologist, physiologist, philosopher, and professor, known today as one of the founding figures of modern psychology. He is widely regarded as the "father of experimental psychology"...
's theory of experimental psychology
Experimental psychology
Experimental psychology is a methodological approach, rather than a subject, and encompasses varied fields within psychology. Experimental psychologists have traditionally conducted research, published articles, and taught classes on neuroscience, developmental psychology, sensation, perception,...
and Theodor Ziehen
Theodor Ziehen
Georg Theodor Ziehen was a German neurologist and psychiatrist born in Frankfurt am Main. He was the son of noted author, Eduard Ziehen ....
's critical analysis of Wundt's approach to psychology.
Notwithstanding his work in psychiatry, Simarro is largely remembered for a contribution made in histology when he developed a silver bromide
Silver bromide
Silver bromide , a soft, pale-yellow, water insoluble salt well known for its unusual sensitivity to light. This property has allowed silver halides to become the basis of modern photographic materials. AgBr is widely used in photographic films and is believed by some to have been used for making...
modification of Camillo Golgi
Camillo Golgi
Camillo Golgi was an Italian physician, pathologist, scientist, and Nobel laureate.-Biography:Camillo Golgi was born in the village of Corteno, Lombardy, then part of the Austrian Empire. The village is now named Corteno Golgi in his honour. His father was a physician and district medical officer...
's silver chromate
Silver chromate
Silver chromate is a brown-red monoclinic crystal and is a chemical precursor to modern photography. It can be formed by combining silver nitrate and potassium chromate...
technique. Famed Spanish histologist Ramon y Cajal recognized Simarro's achievement, and mentioned that it was a milestone that allowed him to abandon general histology and to focus on neurohistology.
External links
- International Brain Research Organization (biography in English)
- Legado Luis Simarro (biography in Spanish)