S. Jacinto Ward and the assistance to tuberculosis patients by the Third Venerable Order of St. Francis’ Penance of Coimbra (1908–1944)

Abstract

The Third Order of Coimbra, founded on January 5, 1659, promoted spiritual and material assistance to its members since early times. The foundation of the hospital (1851) and asylum (1884) guaranteed the assistance to sick and old people. The aim of this paper is to present the ward of the hospital in charge of treating Brothers suffering from tuberculosis. Built under the patronage of sister Maria José Augusta Barata da Silva, the S. Jacinto ward, in memory of her son Jacinto Adelino Barata da Silva, a victim of tuberculosis, was inaugurated on the 2nd January, 1909. In the institution´s archive, can be found the Hospital admission applications (1857–1949), the Records of admissions and discharges (1852–1977), and the Patient records (1857–1950), enabling the identification of 23 tuberculosis patients (60.9% men and 39.1% women). With ages ranging from 23 to 74 years old (mean age=48 years), patients were hospitalized between 10 days and 16 years. Men were mostly artisans, and women were predominantly housewives. The data of these patients as well as the hospital diets and applied therapies will be discussed. Detailed information about these patients will be useful in the knowledge of tuberculosis in pre-antibiotic times.