Cuba and Ophthalmology

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Ophthalmology and Cuban PhilatelyBy Marcos A. IglesiasEver since I can remember, I have been interested in the field ofophthalmology. The rea on is that when Inly was two years

and eight month old Iad an operation to eliminate a glioma inthe retina of the right eye. The operation was performed by thethen-famous Dr. Horacia FERRER Diaz (1876-1%0), a verywell known Cuban ophthalmologist. Dr. errer was very activein the Cuban War of Independence (1895-1898), reaching therank of Colonel of the Liberator Army. During the Republic heserved as Secretary of War in an interim Cuban governmem in1933.An overview of my collection of "Cuban Medicine and Stamps"reveals a rather extensive representation of ophthmalogy and per-sons connected with that field of medicine. Let us take a look.OphthalmologistsI can identify two ubans and tWO foreign ophthalmologist.The two uban are Dr. Carlos Juan FINLAY Barre or Barres andhis son Dr. Carlos Eduardo FI LAY Shine. Of the two foreigners,one died in Cuba (Dr. Francesco ANTOMMARCHI Matey)while the other isDr. LudvicLazarus Zarnenhof (5cott2926), whois better known for his effort to create Esperanto, a constructedlanguage designed for international communications.For his discovery of the mosquito as the vector chat transmits

ye ll ow f ev e r, Dr. Carlos J . Finlay can be found on a num ber ofpostage stamps from Cuba and other countries. Several examplesare shown on nearby (Figs. 1-3). arlos]. Finlay (1833-1915)completed hi pre-medical studies in different cities in France,including Le Havre, Rouen and Mecz, Due to several epidem-ics in urope, he returned to Havana where his studies were notaccepted co enter the Univer iry so he completed his medicaltudies at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia where heobtained his medical degree in 18SS.A1ier he returned to Ha-vana, he had to revalidate his studies at the University of Havana(1857) and subsequently started a medica l practice in Havana asa general practitioner and ophthal-mologic urgeon.His son, Carlos E. Finlay, also a recognized ophrhalmologi t,became professor of ophthalmology at Havana University dur-ing the Republic. He is depicted leaning on a desk in a meetingwith h is father and several others discussing his father's theory of.yellow fever tran mission ( F ig . 4 ).The sojourn of Dr. Francesco Anromrnarchi (1780-1838),who was born in Corsica bu t eventually wound up in Cuba, isalso very interesting. Dr. Amommarchi is better known as thephysician who assisted apoleon Bonaparte, his friend of manyyears, during Bonaparte's illness and death on the island of SaintHelena. After the Emperor's death, Dr. Anrornmarchi traveledfirst co France and later on toNew Orleans. From there he trav-eled to Cuba and settled in Santiago de Cuba, where he died in1838. While living in Cuba, Dr. Anrornmarchi made extensivestudies of mineral water springs near the city o f Puerto Principe

Fig. 1 Carlos]. Finlay'sautograph.Cuba 1965 (Scott 989)

Fig. 2 Carlos J. FinlayCuba 1965 (Scott 991)

Fig. 3 Carlos]. Finlay.Panama 1950 (Scott 372)

Fig. 4 Carlos E. Finlaywith his father. Cuba1965 (Scott 995)

F ig. 5 De at h o fN a p ole on . Cuba 1981 (Scott 2453)

(now Camaguey), He has been credited as having performedthe first cataract operation in Cuba. He is depicted on a 50-cent stamp issued in 1981 showing a painting by harlesBaron von Steuben I that recreates the death of apoleonBonaparte in St. Helena. In the painting, Dr. Anromrnarchistands at the head of Napoleon's deathbed with his left handon the pillow (Fig. 5).

D r. L. L. Zamenhof(1859-1917) was an ophthalmologist

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I"A1'# M UE RTE JOSE LG UI'R RA AG UIA A

Fig. 6 Ludvic Zarnenhof Cuba1 98 7 (Sco tt 29 26 )

Fig. 7 Jose Guerra Aguiar. Cuba1 9 9 1 (Scott 3293 )

Fig. 8 Robert Koch. Cuba 1982(Scott 2525)

Fi.g. 9 Benjamin Franklin. Cuba1 9 5 6 (S co tt C150)

Fig. 10 World Health Day.Cuba 1976 (S co tt 2 04 8 )

born in Poland. The main reason for his inclusion in Cubanphilately is for his work i.ndeveloping Esperanto (Fig. 6).Other ScientistsOther scientists related to ophthalmology depicted onCuban stamps include Jose Luis GUERRA Aguiar (1914-1990) (Fig. 7), who graduated as an optometrist at HavanaUniversity, performing his professional services at the HavanaMunicipal Hospital for Children. M r. Guerra isbetter knownfor his knowledge and expertise of Cuban philately. Amongother activities in this field, he was curator of the CubanPOStal Museum from 1965 until his death in 1990. Hepublished several books related toCuban philately, includinga Cuban stamp catalogue that bears his name. Mr. Guerra hasbeen depicted directly and indirectly on several other Cubanstamps: 1) a stamp issued January 2, 1995 (Scott No. 3610)showing the front page of his book Historia Postal de Cubaand 2) a set of three stamps issued January 2, 2005 (Scott4446-4448) adversising the 40th anniversary of the CubanPOStal Museum that bears his name. The Stamps featureseveral pre-philateliccovers as well as several places and citiesin Cuba.Two other foreign scientists related to ophthalmology de-picted in Cuban stamps are Robert Koch (1843-1910) (Fig.8) for his work in conjunctivitis and Benjamin Franklin(1706-1790) (Fig. 9), who is credited with the invention ofbifocal lenses. Benjamin Frank.li.n was a man of many talents

Fig. II CDR, 10th Anniv.Cuba 1970 (Scott 1 5 5 5 )

Fig. 12 The Blind by M. Vega.Cuba 1957 (S co tt 5 6 6)

with interests in the fields of science, politics and diplomacy.He had poor vision and needed separate eyeglasses for distanceviewing and for reading. Constantly changing eyeglasses becametiresome and he thought that by inserting tWO different crystalswithin the same frame he would avoid this nuisance. The resultwas what we now know as bifocal lenses. It is interesting to ob-serve mat in the sump he is shown without glasses. He is alsodepicted on a postpaid envelope issued during the American occupation of Cuba.Anatomy of the EyeOne stamp was issued on April 7, 1976, (Fig. 10), to advertisethe World Health Organization (\V1iO). 1he stamp show rhedrawing of an eye and relates to trachoma-c-an ophthalmicinfectious disease chat is the leading cause of blindnessworldwide.A stylized eye (Fig. 11) as a symbol of the CDR (Committeefor the Defense of the Revolution) can be seen on a 1970 post-age stamp. The CDR is a paramilitary communist organizationcreated by the current Cuban government to supervise (spy on)the political activities of neighbors within each block of housesin the cities. This organization is also charged with the task operforming some medical activities such as immunization othe population and, for that reason, the stamp is induded in mymedical collection.

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Ophthalmology and Cuban Philately,. ,'.-.1~.~r,.,. ':\-'~'.'T"l \:r.r,,_.r ,:,;!-..,:.-.,.' '.-~."~'rt~I-

Ever since I can remember, I have been interested in the field ofophthalmology. The reason is that when I only was two yearsand eight months old I had an operation to eliminate a glioma inthe retina: of the right eye. The operation was performed by thethen-famous Dr. Horacio FERRER Diaz (1876-1960), a verywell known Cubanophthalmologisr. Dr. Ferrer was very activein the Cuban War of Independence (1895-1898), reaching therank of Colonel of the Liberator Army. During the Republic heserved as Secretary of War in an interim Cuban government in1933.An overview of my collection of "Cuban Medicine and Stamps"reveals a rather extensive representation of ophthrnalogy and'per-sons connected with that field of medicine. Let us take a look.OphthalmologistsI can identify two Cubans and two foreign ophrhalmologists.The two Cubans are Dr. Carlos Juan FINLAY Barre or Barres andhis son Dr. Carlos Eduardo FINLAY Shine. Of the two foreigners,one died in Cuba (Dr. Francesco ANTOMMARCHI Matey)while the other isDr. LudvicLazarus Zamenhof (Scott2926), whois better known for his efforts to create Esperanto, a constructedlanguage designed for international communications.For his discovery of the mosquito as the vector that transmits

yellow fever, Dr. Carlos J. Finlay can be found on a number ofpostage stamps fi:oni Cuba and other countries. Several examplesareshown on nearby (Figs. 1-3).Carlos]. Finlay (1833-1915)completed/ hi~,pre-medical. studies in different cities in France,including Le Havre, Rouen and Metz, Due to several epidem-ics in Europe, he returned to Havana where his studies were notaccepted to enter the University so he completed his medicalstudies at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia where he. obtained his medical degree in 1855.After he returned to Ha-vana, he had to revalidate his ~tudies at the University of Havana(1857) .and subsequentlystarted a medical practice in Havana asa general practidonerand ophthal-mologic surgeon.His son, Carlos E ..Finlay, also a recognizedophthalmologist,

J : > ! = s ~ e professor of ophthalmology at Havana University dur-ing the Republic. He is depicted leaning on a desk in a meetingwith his father and several others discussing his father's theory ofyellow fever transmission (Hg.4).The sojourn of Dt. Francesco Antornmarchi (1780-1838),who was born in Corsica but eventually wound up in Cuba, isalso very interesting. Dr. Antommarchi is better known as thephysician who assisted Napoleon Bonaparte, his friend of manyyears, during Bonaparte's illness and death on the island of SaintHelena. After: the Emperor's death, Dr. Antornmarchi traveledfirst to France and later on to New Orleans. From there he trav-eled to Cuba and settled in Santiago de Cuba, where he died in1838. While living in Cuba, Dr. Anrommarchi made extensivestudies of mineral water springs near rile city of Puerto Principe

Fig. 1Carlos J . Finlay'sautograph.Cuba 1965 (Scott 989)

Fig. 2 Carlos J. FinlayCuba 1965 (Scott 991)

38 Scalpel&Tongs Vol. 52 No.2 April/ June 2008

Fig. 3 Carlos}, Finlay.Panama 1950 (Scott 372)

'. . .... ; .Fig. 4 Carlos E. Finlaywith his father. Cuba. 1965 (Scott 995)

Fig. 5Death ofNapoleon. Cuba 1981 (S~ott 2453)

(now Camaguey). He has been credited as having performedthe first cataract operation in Cuba. He is depicted on a 50-cent stamp issued in 1981 showing a painting by CharlesBaron von Steuben! that recreates ,the death of NapoleonBonaparte in St. Helena. illthe painting,Dr. Antornmarchistands at the head of Napoleon's deathbed with his left handon the pillow (Fig. 5).Dr. L. L. Zamenhof (1859-1917) was an ophthalmologist


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Fig. 6 Ludvic Zamenhof. Cuba1987(Scott 2926)

Fig. 7 Jose Guerra Aguiar. Cuba1991 (Scott 3293)

Fig. 8 Robert Koch. Cuba 1982(Scott 2525)

~....,-- .;.,

Fig. 9 Benjamin Franklin. Cuba1956 (ScottCI50)

Fig. 10World Health Day.Cuba 1976 (Scott 2048)

born in Poland. The ~ain reason for his inclusion in Cubanphilately isfor his work in developing Esperanto (Fig. 6).Other ScientistsOther scientists related to ophthalmology depicted onCuban stamps include Jose Luis GUERRA Aguiar (1914-1990) (Fig. 7), who graduated as an optometrist at HavanaUniversity, performing his professional servicesat the HavanaMunicipal Hospital for Children, Mr. Guerra isbetter knownfor his knowledge and expertise of Cuban philately, Amongother activities in this field, he was curator of the. CubanPostal Museum from 1965 until his death in 1990. Hepublished severalbooks related to Cuban philately, Includinga Cuban stamp catalogue that bears his name. Mr. Guerra hasbeen depicted directly and indirectly on several other Cubanstamps: 1) a stamP issued January 2, 1995 (Scott No. 3610)showing the front page of his book Historia Postal de Cubaand 2) a set of three stamps issued January 2, 2005 (Scott4446'-4448) advertising the 40th anniversary of the CubanPostal Museum that bears his name. The stamps featureseveralpre-philatelic covers aswell as several places and citiesin Cuba.Two other foreign scientists related to ophthalmology de-picted in Cuban stamps are Robert Koch (1843-1910) (Fig.8) for his work in conjunctivitis and Benjamin FranIdin(1706-1790) (Fig. 9), who is credited with the invention ofbifocal lenses. Benjamin FranIdin was a man of many talents

Fig. 11 CDR, 10thAnniv.Cuba 1970 (Scott 1555)

Fig. 12 TheBlind by M. Vega.Cuba 1957 (Scott 566)

with interests in the fields of science, politics and diplomacy.He had poor vision and needed separate eyeglassesfor distanceviewing and for reading. Constantly changing eyeglassesbecametiresome. and he thought that by inserting two different crystalswithin the same frame he would avoid this nuisance. The resultwas what we now know as bifocal lenses. It is interesting to ob-serve that in the stamp he is shown without glasses. He is alsodepicted on a postpaid envelope issued during the American oc-cupation of Cuba.Anatomy of the EyeOne stamp was issued on April 7, 1976, (Fig. 10), to advertisethe World Health Organization (WHO). The stamp show thedrawing of an eye and relates to trachoma-an ophthalmic ..infectious disease that is the leading cause of blindness .worldwide.A stylized eye (Fig. 11) as a symbol of the CDR (Committeefor the Defense of the Revolution) can be seen on a 1970 post-age stamp. The CDR is a paramilitary communist organizationcreated by the current Cuban government to supervise (spyon)the political activities of neighbors within each block of housesin the cities. This organization is also charged with the task ofperforming some medical activities such as immunization ofthe population and, for that reason; the stamp is included in mymedical collection.

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Fig. 13Postal cancellation "Ciego de Avila':

Fig. 14Obverse of prepaid postal card. Legend reads"HoW-much happiness is reflected in you, Daddy"

This envelope includes a Cuban postal tax stamp showing amother and child that was issued December 1, 1941 (ScottRA4) and an advertising label showing a stylized eye. The .label is based on a poster designed by Franz von Stuck (1863-1928) for the lnternational Hygiene Exhibition in Dresden,Germany, May-October 1911. The cancel is dated December3 commemorating Carlos J . Finlay's birthday. It is also theday dedicated in Cuba to honor the medical profession as"Medical Doctor's Day".

EyediseasesBlindness is depicted on a stamp showing an oil painting (Fig.12) entitled "El Ciego" (The Blind Man), by painter ManuelVEGA Lopez who was born in Havana in 1892. I also includein my collection a postal cancellation from the city of Ciego deAvila. "Ciego' means "blind" in Spanish (Fig. 13).Optical instruments:There is a prepaid Cubanpostal card showing eyeglasses (Fig. 14). A 75-cent stamp was issued in2004 showing fluorite,a mineral used in themanufacturing of optical Fig. 15 Fluorite and microscope.lenses (Fig. 15). I am Cuba 2004 (Scott 4417)not including within theoptical instruments all the..microscopes depicted ihCuba stamps. ..

Note: I have highlighted the usual family name of some of thepersons included in this paper to indicate thar this is the nameby which they are known. It is customary in Spanish speakingcountries to use two surnames, the father's first, and then themother's. This is interpreted by persons of other languages toassume that the current family name is the last one listed.Reference1. Charles Guillaume Auguste Henri Francois Louis vonSteuben was born on 19 April 1788 at Bauerbach, nearMannheim, then Grand Duchy of Baden, now Germany.He died in Paris onNovember 1856of a paralysis.

Marcos A. Iglesias1174 Springhill Dr.

Mississauga, Ontario LSH INS Canadaemail: [email protected]

~

Danish Cancer Society, 80th anniversary. Denmark 2008(Scott B93) Cover of booklet of! 0 semipostal stamps

40 Scalpel&Tongs Vol. 52 No.2 April! June 2008
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]

Cuba and Ophthalmology

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