Juan Santos Fernández Hernández

Ophthalmologist physician. Promoter of important endeavors in the field of Medical Sciences in Cuba. He performed, for the first time on the Island, complex ophthalmological operations. He was author of a large number of scientific articles and reports and considered one of the most prolific Cuban authors of the Nineteenth Century.

He was born at the sugar mill "Atrevido", parish of Alacranes (current Unión de Reyes, belonging to the province of Matanzas), Cuba.

He began his medical studies at the University of La Habana, but completed them at the College of Medicine of San Carlos, Madrid, in 1872. Immediately after, he went to train as an ophthalmological surgeon in Paris, until 1875.

In March of 1875, still in France, Fernández was elected Corresponding Member of the Academy of Medical, Physical and Natural Sciences of La Habana. Upon his return to Cuba, he became a Full Member, in December of that same year; Member of Merit, in 1897, and President of the aforementioned institution, between the years: 1897-1899 and 1901-1922.

After his return to Cuba, in the same year of 1875, Fernández founded the Medical-Surgical Chronicle Magazine, which achieved international prestige and was published until 1940. Around this magazine, he managed to gather an important group of Cuban physicians. He performed, for the first time on the Island, complex ophthalmological operations and treated well-known personalities, among them the mother of José Martí.

As president of the Academy, it fell to him to return to the departing Spanish governor the Spanish insignia (flag, coat of arms) that had until then presided over the Assembly hall of the Academy. For this purpose, November 27, 1898 was chosen, the anniversary of the execution of medical students. He was also an honorary member of a good number of foreign ophthalmological societies.

He died in La Habana (current city of the same name belonging to the province of Ciudad de La Habana), Cuba, on August 6, 1922.

He was author of a large number of scientific articles and reports, mainly on ophthalmology, but also on diseases such as glanders, tuberculosis, and yellow fever. He promoted the founding of the Anthropological Society of Cuba, in 1877.

In 1887 he created the Histobacteriological Laboratory and Institute of Anti-Rabies Vaccination of La Habana, taking as a model that of Luis Pasteur in Paris. That was, probably, the first laboratory of that type inaugurated in America. Fernández commissioned three Cuban physicians —Diego Tamayo, Francisco I. Vildósola and Pedro Albarrán— for a stay at Pasteur's laboratory, and financed the equipment and operation of the Havana laboratory. In this laboratory, the anti-rabies serum (1887) and the antidiphtheric serum (1894-1895) were obtained for the first time in Latin America.

Fernández was one of the most prolific Cuban authors of the Nineteenth Century, his active bibliography included, in 1916, 928 titles.

Most Important Works
The study on cataract surgery (1874) work that earned him the title of Corresponding Academic of the Academy of Sciences of La Habana.
Hygiene of the Eyes (1875). Memoir awarded by the same Academy with $100 that Doctor Santos ceded to the House of Charity and Maternity to contribute to the expenses of a Consultation for eye diseases.
Memoir on Alcoholic Amblyopia in Cuba, directed to the Ophthalmological Body of New York in 1876.
Ophthalmology, Congenital Amaurosis spontaneously cured at first menstrual eruption. Regional Congress of Medical Sciences (Cádiz 1879). At the same Congress he presented several other very interesting works on congenital amblyopia, on corneal opacities in the maternal womb.
On Anesthesia in Ocular Surgery (in collaboration with Dr. Arias Gago) Cádiz 1880.
Wounds of both eyes from gunshot wounds. Study published in 1880 and translated into English and German.
Tetanus in eye trauma and its annexes (1886). Reproduced and analyzed by the scientific press of Paris.
Is myopia a product of civilization? (1886). In-depth study of Anthropology.
Clinic of Eye Diseases. (1887). Highly praised work.
Study on Cataract (Medical Congress of Cuba, 1890).
Les hématozoaires de Laveran dans la neuralgie ophtalmique, in collaboration with Dr. Domingo Mádam. (Paris 1892).
Le délire aprés l' operation de la Cataracte (1895).
Le trachome a l'ile de Cuba. (Paris 1896).
Alcoholic Amblyopia (Intern. Congress of Hygiene) (Madrid 1898).
Medical Press in Cuba (First Intern. Congress of Medical Press) (Paris, July 1900).
Iridectomy in cataract surgery (Pan-American Medical Congress, February 1901).
Eye diseases in a hot country. Conference delivered on April 27, 1903 (XIV International Congress of Medicine in Madrid).
Granular Conjunctivitis in Cuba (1903).
Treatment of Trachoma (II Latin-American Medical Congress) (Buenos Aires 1904).
Hallucination and astigmatism (1908).
Pure Nicotinic Amblyopia (1908).
The genital sterilization of criminals (1910).
Abuse of nasal canal catheterization (II National Medical Congress, Habana, February 1911).
Two cases of parenchymatous keratitis (1912).
Condylomas of the iris (1914).
Cataract surgery today (1914).
Congenital loss of sight, spontaneously recovered (1915).
The current European war and the sciences (1915).
Anti-rabies vaccination in La Habana (II Pan-American Scientific Congress, Washington 1916).
Furthermore: several works still unpublished.

Active Bibliography
Hygiene of the Eyes. La Propaganda Literaria Printing Press, La Habana, 1875
"Anthropological Essay. On eye diseases in the different races inhabiting the island of Cuba." In: Bulletin of the Anthropological Society of the Island of Cuba. No 3. La Habana, pp. 49-52, 1878.
"The loss of sight in yellow fever." In: Annals of the Royal Academy of Medical, Physical and Natural Sciences of La Habana. V. 18. La Habana, 1881, pp. 195-203
Clinic of Eye Diseases. Soler, Álvarez and Company Printing Press, La Habana, 1887
"Ophthalmias on the island of Cuba." In: Manual of Sanitary Practice. La Habana, 1904, pp. 179-239
Memories of My Life. V. 1. Lloredo and Company Printing Press, La Habana, 1918, and V. 2. Suárez, Carasa and Company Printing Press, La Habana, 1920.

Source: EcuRed