Pedro Virgili
Encyclopedia
Pedro Virgili (Vilallonga del Camp
, Tarragona
, 1699 – Barcelona
, 1776) was one of the most prominent royal surgeons of Spain in the 18th century and one of the surgeons of the King of Spain. He has been described as particularly influential and was regarded as a role model by subsequent esteemed men of this profession in Spain, such as Antonio Gimbernat.
He trained in the medical profession in Montpelier
and Paris
. He served as a military surgeon at hospitals in Tarragona
, Valencia y Cádiz
. where he founded the Royal College of Surgeons and the Botanical Garden of Cádiz in 1760. Along with Jorge Juan y Santacilia
, Virgili organized a scientific "assembly" which they had envisioned developing into a national academy of science in Madrid. A British medical journal of 1861 said of him "What Piquer was to scientific medicine in Spain, Pedro Virgili, his contemporary, was to scientific surgery ; but in this not so much by his writings, as through the powerful impetus he gave for its advancement by his successful organization of those separate surgical schools". Virgili is also noted for his use of tracheostomy to treat quinsy; the procedure is better known for treating diphtheria
. One of his most notable publications was his Compendium of Midwifery, an important textbook used by new surgical colleges in Spain.
He died in 1776 at the age of 77. The military hospital Sanitari Parc Pere Virgili (his Catalan name) in Barcelona has been named in his honor. An award is also given by the City of Cádiz and the Royal Academy of Medicine in his name.
Vilallonga del Camp
Vilallonga del Camp is a municipality in the Province of Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain. According to 2009 its population was 1,889 inhabitants. Vilallonga del Camp is the only village within the municipality. It is located north of the provincial capital of Tarragona, roughly 12 miles from the coast...
, Tarragona
Tarragona
Tarragona is a city located in the south of Catalonia on the north-east of Spain, by the Mediterranean. It is the capital of the Spanish province of the same name and the capital of the Catalan comarca Tarragonès. In the medieval and modern times it was the capital of the Vegueria of Tarragona...
, 1699 – Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, 1776) was one of the most prominent royal surgeons of Spain in the 18th century and one of the surgeons of the King of Spain. He has been described as particularly influential and was regarded as a role model by subsequent esteemed men of this profession in Spain, such as Antonio Gimbernat.
He trained in the medical profession in Montpelier
Montpelier
Montpelier or Montpellier is the name of several places:in Canada:* Montpellier, Quebec* Montpellier , a train station in Montreal, Canadain France:* Montpellier, a city in southern France** The University of Montpellierin Ireland:...
and 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...
. He served as a military surgeon at hospitals in Tarragona
Tarragona
Tarragona is a city located in the south of Catalonia on the north-east of Spain, by the Mediterranean. It is the capital of the Spanish province of the same name and the capital of the Catalan comarca Tarragonès. In the medieval and modern times it was the capital of the Vegueria of Tarragona...
, Valencia y Cádiz
Cádiz
Cadiz is a city and port in southwestern Spain. It is the capital of the homonymous province, one of eight which make up the autonomous community of Andalusia....
. where he founded the Royal College of Surgeons and the Botanical Garden of Cádiz in 1760. Along with Jorge Juan y Santacilia
Jorge Juan y Santacilia
Jorge Juan y Santacilia was a Spanish mathematician, scientist, naval officer, and mariner.-Family and Education:...
, Virgili organized a scientific "assembly" which they had envisioned developing into a national academy of science in Madrid. A British medical journal of 1861 said of him "What Piquer was to scientific medicine in Spain, Pedro Virgili, his contemporary, was to scientific surgery ; but in this not so much by his writings, as through the powerful impetus he gave for its advancement by his successful organization of those separate surgical schools". Virgili is also noted for his use of tracheostomy to treat quinsy; the procedure is better known for treating diphtheria
Diphtheria
Diphtheria is an upper respiratory tract illness caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, a facultative anaerobic, Gram-positive bacterium. It is characterized by sore throat, low fever, and an adherent membrane on the tonsils, pharynx, and/or nasal cavity...
. One of his most notable publications was his Compendium of Midwifery, an important textbook used by new surgical colleges in Spain.
He died in 1776 at the age of 77. The military hospital Sanitari Parc Pere Virgili (his Catalan name) in Barcelona has been named in his honor. An award is also given by the City of Cádiz and the Royal Academy of Medicine in his name.