The son of Carlos Seidl, an Austrian humanist and distinguished Professor of Classical Literature, and D. Raymunda Pinto Seidl, Carlos Pinto Seidl was born on November 24, 1867, in Belém, in the State of Pará. In the words of Professor Olympio Oliveira Ribeiro da Fonseca, Carlos Seidl had the good fortune of being born into a well-off family with a strong academic tradition. In addition, Chief Surgeon José Antônio Teixeira Pinto was his grandfather on his mother’s side.
Still a youngster, Seidl studied at the Paraense Gymnasium, which later changed its name to the Paes de Carvalho State School, and then attended a theological seminary in France. Upon realizing that he no longer wished to pursue religious studies, he returned to Brazil and studied medicine at the College of Medicine of Rio de Janeiro (now, the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro – UFRJ), graduating in 1892 after successfully defending a thesis named “On Etiology regarding Diagnosis, Therapy, and Sanitation.” In 1890, while still a student, Seidl joined a Rio de Janeiro medical commission in charge of assisting the population of the city of Campinas during an outbreak of yellow fever.
Shortly after graduating, Dr. Seidl was appointed Dean of the now closed São Sebastião Hospital, a position he occupied for 37 years, from 1892 to 1929, and which he was largely responsible for turning into a research center for the study of tropical and infectious diseases.
Dr. Carlos Seidl was elected a Full Member of the Academia Nacional de Medicina (National Academy of Medicine – ANM) on November 28, 1895, upon submission of his dissertation titled “On Nosocomial isolation – A Contribution to the Study of Defensive Prophylaxis in Rio de Janeiro.” He was sworn in on December 5, 1895, and later went on to serve as President from 1910 to 1913. In 1927, he was awarded the title of Emeritus Member and the memory of Dr. Seidl is forever cherished in Chair Number 17, of which he is Patron.
The physician wrote one of the first articles on the use of X-Rays in medicine in 1896. Additionally, he was considered one of the most renowned Brazilian sanitary experts and from 1912 to 1918 was Director General of Public Health, which today would correspond to the position of Minister of Health. He decided to resign due to the Spanish Flu and was replaced by Carlos Chagas.
In the 1919-published “A Propósito da Pandemia de 1918: fatos e argumentos irrespondíveis,” (“Regarding the 1918 Pandemic: Irrefutable Facts and Arguments”) book, Dr. Seidl describes his personal experiences and hardships throughout the period, provides his opinions on the matter and answers criticism he received during his tenure as Director General of Public Health. The book also brings academic debates as well as support from his peers for the public attacks he endured.
In 1915, the physician chaired the Leprosy Prophylaxis Commission, which was backed by prominent medical societies as well as by physicians and scientists, and whose goal was to conduct studies on how leprosy was spread and how it could be avoided. In 1919, following the end of these studies and discussions, the commission approved findings that were used as a cornerstone to draft a bill to tackle the disease.
Moreover, Dr. Carlos Seidl composed the decision-making body of the Brazilian League against Illiteracy founded in Rio de Janeiro in 1915. The goal of the league was to try to curb illiteracy throughout Brazil. It was terminated in 1940, after President Getúlio Vargas carried out several measures in the field of education.
Dr. Seidl was appointed as a Full Professor of Public Medicine at the Rio de Janeiro Faculty of Law in 1916.
Also, a journalist and advertising professional, Dr. Carlos Seidl left behind an extensive body of work addressing several subjects in the field of medicine. He collaborated with the O País, Jornal do Commercio and A Tribuna newspapers and was Editor-in-Chief of the Revista Médico-Cirúrgica do Brasil weekly magazine for many years.
In addition, he was one of the founders and first President of the Sindicato Médico Brasileiro (Brazilian Medical Syndicate) in 1927. Dr. Carlos Seidl established and led both the Leagues Against Tuberculosis in 1900 and the Brazilian Medical Syndicate in 1927. Furthermore, in 1907 he founded the Brazilian Society of Neurology, Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine together with a group of 40 other physicians, including Miguel Couto, Juliano Moreira, Fernandes Figueira, Carlos Eiras, Afrânio Peixoto and Miguel Pereira, as well as presiding over the Rio de Janeiro Medical and Surgical Society from 1912 to 1913.
Throughout his remarkable career, Dr. Seidl was honored with numerous titles and awards, such as the Order of the Crown of Italy and the French Legion of Honor medal in the grade of Officer, in addition to maintaining cultural, social, and scientific ties with other acclaimed international experts. He was a member of the Paris-based International Office of Public Hygiene, the Argentine Medical Association, the Lisbon Medical Sciences Society, the Royal Hispanic American Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters, and the Berlin-based International Union Against Tuberculosis.
His memory lives on as Patron of Chair Number 12 of the Brazilian Academy of Military Medicine.
Dr. Carlos Pinto Seidl passed away on October 19, 1929, in the city of Rio de Janeiro.
In his honor, the city of Rio de Janeiro named a street after him in the neighborhood of Caju.
Acad. Francisco Sampaio
Academic number: 170
Chair: 17
Chair honored: 17
Member: Emérito
Section: Medicina
Election: 28/11/1895
Inauguration: 05/12/1895
President: José Lourenço de Magalhães
Emeritus Member Status: 01/09/1927
Death: 19/10/1929
Academic number: 170
Chair: 17
Chair honored: 17
Member: Emérito
Section: Medicina
Election: 28/11/1895
Inauguration: 05/12/1895
President: José Lourenço de Magalhães
Emeritus Member Status: 01/09/1927
Death: 19/10/1929
The son of Carlos Seidl, an Austrian humanist and distinguished Professor of Classical Literature, and D. Raymunda Pinto Seidl, Carlos Pinto Seidl was born on November 24, 1867, in Belém, in the State of Pará. In the words of Professor Olympio Oliveira Ribeiro da Fonseca, Carlos Seidl had the good fortune of being born into a well-off family with a strong academic tradition. In addition, Chief Surgeon José Antônio Teixeira Pinto was his grandfather on his mother’s side.
Still a youngster, Seidl studied at the Paraense Gymnasium, which later changed its name to the Paes de Carvalho State School, and then attended a theological seminary in France. Upon realizing that he no longer wished to pursue religious studies, he returned to Brazil and studied medicine at the College of Medicine of Rio de Janeiro (now, the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro – UFRJ), graduating in 1892 after successfully defending a thesis named “On Etiology regarding Diagnosis, Therapy, and Sanitation.” In 1890, while still a student, Seidl joined a Rio de Janeiro medical commission in charge of assisting the population of the city of Campinas during an outbreak of yellow fever.
Shortly after graduating, Dr. Seidl was appointed Dean of the now closed São Sebastião Hospital, a position he occupied for 37 years, from 1892 to 1929, and which he was largely responsible for turning into a research center for the study of tropical and infectious diseases.
Dr. Carlos Seidl was elected a Full Member of the Academia Nacional de Medicina (National Academy of Medicine – ANM) on November 28, 1895, upon submission of his dissertation titled “On Nosocomial isolation – A Contribution to the Study of Defensive Prophylaxis in Rio de Janeiro.” He was sworn in on December 5, 1895, and later went on to serve as President from 1910 to 1913. In 1927, he was awarded the title of Emeritus Member and the memory of Dr. Seidl is forever cherished in Chair Number 17, of which he is Patron.
The physician wrote one of the first articles on the use of X-Rays in medicine in 1896. Additionally, he was considered one of the most renowned Brazilian sanitary experts and from 1912 to 1918 was Director General of Public Health, which today would correspond to the position of Minister of Health. He decided to resign due to the Spanish Flu and was replaced by Carlos Chagas.
In the 1919-published “A Propósito da Pandemia de 1918: fatos e argumentos irrespondíveis,” (“Regarding the 1918 Pandemic: Irrefutable Facts and Arguments”) book, Dr. Seidl describes his personal experiences and hardships throughout the period, provides his opinions on the matter and answers criticism he received during his tenure as Director General of Public Health. The book also brings academic debates as well as support from his peers for the public attacks he endured.
In 1915, the physician chaired the Leprosy Prophylaxis Commission, which was backed by prominent medical societies as well as by physicians and scientists, and whose goal was to conduct studies on how leprosy was spread and how it could be avoided. In 1919, following the end of these studies and discussions, the commission approved findings that were used as a cornerstone to draft a bill to tackle the disease.
Moreover, Dr. Carlos Seidl composed the decision-making body of the Brazilian League against Illiteracy founded in Rio de Janeiro in 1915. The goal of the league was to try to curb illiteracy throughout Brazil. It was terminated in 1940, after President Getúlio Vargas carried out several measures in the field of education.
Dr. Seidl was appointed as a Full Professor of Public Medicine at the Rio de Janeiro Faculty of Law in 1916.
Also, a journalist and advertising professional, Dr. Carlos Seidl left behind an extensive body of work addressing several subjects in the field of medicine. He collaborated with the O País, Jornal do Commercio and A Tribuna newspapers and was Editor-in-Chief of the Revista Médico-Cirúrgica do Brasil weekly magazine for many years.
In addition, he was one of the founders and first President of the Sindicato Médico Brasileiro (Brazilian Medical Syndicate) in 1927. Dr. Carlos Seidl established and led both the Leagues Against Tuberculosis in 1900 and the Brazilian Medical Syndicate in 1927. Furthermore, in 1907 he founded the Brazilian Society of Neurology, Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine together with a group of 40 other physicians, including Miguel Couto, Juliano Moreira, Fernandes Figueira, Carlos Eiras, Afrânio Peixoto and Miguel Pereira, as well as presiding over the Rio de Janeiro Medical and Surgical Society from 1912 to 1913.
Throughout his remarkable career, Dr. Seidl was honored with numerous titles and awards, such as the Order of the Crown of Italy and the French Legion of Honor medal in the grade of Officer, in addition to maintaining cultural, social, and scientific ties with other acclaimed international experts. He was a member of the Paris-based International Office of Public Hygiene, the Argentine Medical Association, the Lisbon Medical Sciences Society, the Royal Hispanic American Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters, and the Berlin-based International Union Against Tuberculosis.
His memory lives on as Patron of Chair Number 12 of the Brazilian Academy of Military Medicine.
Dr. Carlos Pinto Seidl passed away on October 19, 1929, in the city of Rio de Janeiro.
In his honor, the city of Rio de Janeiro named a street after him in the neighborhood of Caju.
Acad. Francisco Sampaio