Apontamentos para a história médico-pericial na Marinha do Brasil

Abstract

The authors present the results of a documentary research conducted in order to know the most prevailing diseases among the Brazilian Navy personnel by reviewing the records of medical inspections from the late nineteenth to the early twentieth century filed with the Centro de Perícias Médicas da Marinha (Navy Medical Inspection Center). The medical inspections were conducted on the premises of the current Hospital Central da Marinha (Central Navy Hospital) on Ilha das Cobras. A high frequency of pulmonary tuberculosis and syphilis was observed as the cause of definitive disability for the Navy Active Duty, as well as beriberi and malaria as major causes of temporary disability. The authors also pro-vide a brief historical account of life of seamen onboard in ancient times and the epidemics that ravaged the crews. Lastly, they present little-known documents and facts, attesting the significant historical value of the material collected from the files of Centro de Perícias Médicas da Marinha.