On Wednesday, July 20, 2005, at 10:00 a.m. Uruguayan time, the Hospital de las Piedras in Uruguay was named Hospital Dr. Alfonso Espínola (Law No. 17875 of June 17, 2005), thanks to the efforts carried out by the Board of Directors of the Las Piedras Historical Association "March 8, 1744", whose President is Esc. Hebert Rossi Pasina.
During the same, a commemorative plaque was unveiled in memory of the illustrious Canary doctor Dr. Alfonso Espínola Vega, on the centenary of his death. The proposal for this name dates back to 2003, when the monolith in tribute to Dr. Alfonso Espínola was moved from its former location on the corner of Avda. Artigas and the street that bears his name, to its current location in front of the Hospital de Las Piedras. Born in Teguise, then capital of the island of Lanzarote, on the night of December 24, 1845. He graduated in Medicine with honors from the University of Cádiz and his classmates included Baldomero Cuenca, Antonio Serratosa, Luis Tardío and Lorenzo Cabello.
Dr. Espínola emigrated to Uruguay, arriving in Montevideo in 1878. Here he practiced the profession until 1882. He soon earned the respect, admiration and affection of patients and colleagues, but believes that his place is in Las Piedras as there is no doctor there. He lives in a chalet called the "Casa del Pico", located on the current Baltasar Brum street. This city, located about 22 km north of the capital in the Department of Canelones, is singularly linked to the destiny of many Canary emigrants, so much so that its inhabitants are called Canarians.
Espínola heroically faces a terrible smallpox epidemic between 1881 and 1882, and it is said that he spent 15 days and as many nights without sleeping to care for the sick. This year he learns that two young doctors who are starting out want to establish themselves in Las Piedras but fear that Dr. Espínola's fame will close the doors to them. Our doctor then moves to San José de Mayo where he will practice until his death. San José is about 80 km from Montevideo and is the capital of the Department of the same name, and its inhabitants are called maragatos.
Dr. Espínola's work during these decades was commendable and immense. A humanitarian and philanthropic doctor, he charged nothing or charged little if at all. It is said that this generous doctor, endowed with a great clinical eye, attended to the rich out of obligation and to the poor out of devotion. In 1889, this great scientist founded in a house on Rincón street in the city of San José, together with Dr. Jaime Garau, the first Anti-Rabies Microbiology Laboratory, which he named the "Doctor Ferrán" laboratory and which he paid for out of his own pocket. It was probably the first to be created in South America.
A philosopher educated in the abnegation of Stoicism, a great cultural animator and pedagogue, committed to his time in the instruction and education of young people with an altruistic character, he taught everything, even astronomy on starry nights. A vital and restless spirit, of authentic democratic character that he knew how to demonstrate with his works, giving himself body, soul and mind to his patients.
Dr. Javier S. Mazana
