Bernardino António Gomes (Son)

Category: Civil Architecture > Memorial

District: Lisboa > Lisboa > Lisboa > São Vicente

Location

In the São Vicente area of Lisbon, you will find the monument dedicated to Bernardino António Gomes (Filho). This bust is located in Praça Doutor Bernardino António Gomes Pai, a square that also honours his father. The location allows for observation of the local atmosphere and daily life in the area, with nearby landmarks such as the former Naval Hospital (Hospital da Marinha) and Campo de Santa Clara, which help to place the monument within Lisbon's urban fabric.

A Medical and Scientific Legacy

The bust commemorates the figure of Bernardino António Gomes (Filho), a Portuguese physician and botanist who left a significant mark on the history of national medicine. Among other contributions, he is remembered for being the first doctor in Portugal to use chloroform and an ether inhalation apparatus, acts that represented a remarkable advance in anaesthesia techniques. His dedication extended to public health, playing a fundamental role in the advancement of hygiene in Portugal, especially during cholera epidemics. He was also a central figure in the founding of the Portuguese Commission for Aid to the Wounded and Sick in Time of War, the embryo of the Portuguese Red Cross, and in the creation of Dona Estefânia Hospital, the first in Portugal to be designed from scratch for hospital purposes.

The Sculptural Tribute

The presence of this bust in Lisbon serves as an enduring tribute to the achievements and contributions of Bernardino António Gomes (Filho). The work, a bronze bust on a pedestal, was created by the sculptor António Augusto da Costa Motta (nephew). Its unveiling, which took place in 1930 in the presence of the then President of the Republic Óscar Carmona, underlines the relevance and recognition attributed to this remarkable man of science. The monument is a point of memory that invites reflection on the impact of his work on the development of medicine and health in Portugal.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt