BEZERRA DE MENEZES
Adolfo Bezerra de Menezes Cavalcanti was born in the old neighborhood of Freguesia do Riacho de Sangue (Stream of Blood), today Solonopole, in Ceara, Brazil, on August 29.
In the year of 1838, Adolfo Bezerra de Menezes Cavalcanti, started studying at the public school of the Friar’s Villa, where in only ten months he sufficiently prepared himself to reach the degree of knowledge of his master, who was responsible to guide his first educational phase. At a very early age, he revealed to be extremely intelligent. When he was eleven years old, he was able to commence the course on Humanities. At thirteen, he knew Latin so well that he not only gave classes to his colleagues, but also was called to replace his teacher every time he had to be absent.
His father, Antonio Bezerra de Menezes, was captain of the old militias and lieutenant – colonel of the National Guard; he was a stern man, extremely honest and of irreproachable character. His wealth was derived from his cattle’s farm. He spent large sums of money in politics and in the assistance of friends and relatives, because of his good-natured heart. Those people, however, only looked for him in order to exploit his charitable feelings, and he ended up compromising his fortune. Upon realizing that his debts equaled his possessions, he expressed to his creditors his intention of giving them everything that he owned, in order to pay off the debt. The creditors, being his friend, refused to accept such a proposal, replying that he could pay them when and how he wanted.
In spite of the insistence of the elderly honest man, his creditors didn’t change their minds. Mr. Antonio Bezerra de Menezes proposed them to remain as the administrator of what one-day was his fortune, only using from it the strictly necessary for the maintenance of his family, who changed from a previous comfortable condition to a life of privations.
Encouraged by the firm purpose of being guided by his father’s honest character, Bezerra de Menezes, with a reduced amount of money, given to him by his relatives, was taken by the firm purpose of overcoming all obstacles and headed to Rio de Janeiro in order to follow the career that his vocation inspired him to pursue: Medicine.
In November of 1852, he entered as intern resident at the Mercy Hospital. He graduated from the College of Medicine of Rio de Janeiro, in 1856, presenting a doctorate thesis about: “Diagnosis of Cancer.” It was when he started to sign only Adolfo Bezerra de Menezes. On April 27 the Imperial Academy of Medicine, presenting the work: “Some Considerations on Cancer under its treatment perspective.” The designated reporter, Academic José Pereira Rego, read the result on May 11 same year, and he assumed the position in June 1 substitute, in the Area of Surgery in the College of Medicine. Due to the recommendation
Given by his teacher Manoel Feliciano Pereira de Carvalho, at the time Chief Surgeon of the Army, Bezerra de Menezes was named his assistant, assuming the position of Surgeon – Lieutenant, 1831. He died in Rio de Janeiro, on April 11th, 1900.th, 1857, he applied for a position of titular member of, 1857, and the election took place on May 18th.In 1858 he applied to a position, as substitute, in the Area of Surgery in the College of Medicine. Due to the recommendation given by his teacher Manoel Feliciano Pereira de Carvalho, at the time Chief Surgeon of the Army, Bezerra de Menezes was named his assistant, assuming the position of Surgeon – Lieutenant.
http://www.sgny.org/main/documents/BezerradeMenezes.pdf
http://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bezerra_de_Menezes
ADRIANA SASSOON 