Pita (Dr António da Luz)

Dr António da Luz Pita was perhaps the ablest physician ever born on Madeiran soil. In his day no one here disputed his intellectual supremacy in matters of medicine and surgery, and we know of no other doctor, before or after him, who showed more proven competence in clinical practice. One might perhaps cite Dr João Francisco de Oliveira, physician to John VI, Dr Julião Fernandes da Silva, author of the Carta Critica sôbre o Metodo Curativo dos Medicos Funchalenses, and also the Count of Canavial, all of whom left a reputation as eminent clinicians. We have no reason, however, to believe that they surpassed Dr António da Luz Pita, even allowing for the periods in which they lived, above all because he was at once a great physician and a most skilful surgeon.

Born into a humble family, Dr António da Luz Pita came into the world in the town (vila) of Ponta do Sol (‘point of the sun’) on 2 September 1802. Having completed his secondary studies in this city, he went to Montpellier, where he took the degree of bachelor (bacharel, university graduate) of letters in 1826, that of bachelor of physical sciences in 1827 and a doctorate in medicine in 1830. The following year he received the degree of doctor of surgery from the Paris faculty.

He married, in Montpellier, a lady from one of the most distinguished families of that city, and in 1833 he intended to return to his homeland with his wife. On calling at Gibraltar, however, he became convinced of the grave dangers he would face in entering a country where the civil war was then at its most acute stage. He remained in Gibraltar until the Convention of Évora-Monte and practised there with success. Against the opinion of the English doctors, he identified as cholera morbus a suspicious disease that had appeared there, and his diagnosis was later fully confirmed. He rendered notable services on that occasion, which led the British government to grant him the diploma of citizen of the 1st class, with the right of residence in Gibraltar, at that time the highest distinction that could be conferred there on a foreigner.

In Madeira he held the posts of health officer (delegado de saúde) and professor at our Medical School, in which he brilliantly displayed the high qualities of his mind. As teacher and director of our foremost educational establishment, he had to sustain a prolonged struggle with Dr João da Câmara Leme, later Count of Canavial, a man of character and rare merit but of a violent and quarrelsome temperament, who in various pamphlets harshly attacked Dr António da Luz Pita, both as professor at the School and as health officer of the district.

Dr Luz Pita, who enjoyed great prestige and influence here in Madeira, represented the island in parliament in the legislative sessions of 1851 to 1852 and of 1853 to 1858, championing with selfless dedication the prosperity and advancement of his homeland.

He was a deputy and was in Lisbon when word reached the capital that the terrible epidemic of cholera morbus had begun to spread in Funchal. Having requested the most immediate and urgent aid from the central government, he left without delay for Madeira aboard the steam warship Mindelo to take up his post as health officer. He was accompanied by several doctors and nurses, and also carried a large quantity of medicines, a great deal of clothing, beds, straw mattresses, etc., as well as an extraordinary credit of six contos de réis (conto: one million réis), intended to meet the initial costs of setting up the medical and hospital services. In him Gromicho Couceiro found his most valuable and effective assistant, and the name of Dr Luz Pita is closely linked to the memory of that meritorious and never-forgotten governor. In so calamitous a time he rendered the most distinguished services as a physician, as head of the health services, as a man of great prestige and influence, and also through the prompt aid he obtained from the government in the mainland. In the midst of this humanitarian campaign, in which he was wholly engaged and absorbed, he was dealt a most terrible blow: the death of his wife, Dona Ângela Delmas, a victim of the epidemic.

In the article Princess Dona Maria Amélia Hospice (vol. II, p. 128) we highlighted the services that Dr António da Luz Pita rendered to the Empress Dona Amélia in founding that charitable institution, in setting up the hospital and directing it medically, and also as the representative on this island of its august and illustrious foundress. We refer the reader there, thus avoiding needless and tedious repetition.

As a politician, he fought battles in the press against his opponents, serving as editor of and contributor to several newspapers, such as O Archivista, A Ordem and A Razão. He published the following pamphlets:

He wrote several reports on the clinical service of the Princess Dona Maria Amélia Hospice, some of which were published, and also a Nota sobre uma modificação do estetoscopio, read at the Academy of Medicine in Paris, which we do not know ever saw publication.

He was one of the founding members of the Society of Medical Sciences of Lisbon (Sociedade das Ciencias Medicas de Lisboa) and belonged to several learned societies abroad. Besides holding the posts of professor and director of our Medical School and of health delegate, he served here in Madeira as president of the Funchal Municipal Council and as a member of the District General Council (Junta Geral). He held the title of Councillor (carta de conselho) and several Portuguese and foreign honours. He died in this city on 23 February 1870.