Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Bra ov • Vol. 6 (51) - 2009 Series 6: Medical Sciences Supplement – Proceeding of The IV th Balkan Congress of History of Medicine

DR. VICTOR GOMOIU, BALKAN PARADIGMS AND LESSONS OF A LIFETIME

D. BARAN 1

Abstract: Victor Gomoiu founded the Romanian Royal Society for the History of Medicine and was member of the International Academy for the History of Science. He was elected vice-president, president and honorary president of the International Society for the History of Medicine. Enabling the expression of Balkan medical identities, he created a Center for South- Eastern European Medical Ethnographic Studies. Gomoiu tried to save Romanian Jews from atrocities perpetrated by fascist movements. Eminent surgeon, he implemented original sympathectomy techniques and participated in medical missions during the Balkan War, and World Wars I and II. He developed an outstanding social and educational work within the “Vergului Barrier” Establishments. Doctor Gomoiu was imprisoned and then rehabilitated by the communist regime. He embodied the paradigm of the idealistic intellectual who endeavored to affirm traditional Romanian medical, cultural and moral values. His lesson equally bears upon the continuous trial between intransigent resistance and lucrative compromise in history. Key words: Romanian surgery, medical ethnology, philanthropy, resistance

Biographical and professional Medical Students` Society. landmarks He equally began law studies.(10) Undoubtedly, Dr. Victor Gomoiu`s Between 1903 and 1909, Dr. Gomoiu was name remains tightly connected with trained in various hospitals of . History of Medicine in , in the In 1909 he passed magna cum laude his Balkans and in the world, as a whole. He doctoral degree thesis entitled “Anaplastic was born on April 18th, 1882, in the Surgery of Face and Head” which earned village of Vânju Mare, in the Mehedin Ńi him the gold medal. He chose the position County, not far from the Danube shore and of librarian of the Bucharest Faculty of the Roman ruins of the Apollodor of Medicine Library between 1909 and 1911. Damascus` bridge at Turnu Severin (today, In 1911, Dr. Gomoiu was appointed Drobeta-Turnu Severin). physician and director of the «Sanatorium Son of an orthodox priest, he was a for the Fight against Tuberculosis in strictly moral and diligent pupil. In 1900 Children» of Tekirghiol, a Romanian he began his medical studies and in 1906 Black Seaside resort. he graduated the Faculty of Medicine in Between 1914 and 1927, he was again the Romanian capital. From 1906 to 1908, present as a surgeon in the great Bucharest he was vice-president and president of the hospitals of “Philanthropy”, “Coltzea” and

1 Centre “Advanced Research on Mechatronics”, Transilvania University of Bra ov. 138 Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Bra ov • Vol. 6 (51) - 2009 • Series VI

“Brâncovenesc”. From 1927 until soon Health for about three months, from July 4, after World War II (1948) , he continued to September 14, 1940. his medical activity within the “Verg He was soon dismissed by the National Barrier Medical Social Complex” which he Legionary government instituted in was the founder of. Romania on September 6 th , 1940, and Dr. Victor Gomoiu also became overthrown on January 23 rd , 1941. professor of surgical clinique at the Faculty An incident troubled his life in 1933. of Medicine of Bucharest. [6] For his After the Romanian Prime Minister I. G. professional qualities, he was the private Duca`s assassination by “The ” physician of Queen Elena of Romania. fascist movement, several suspects were He married Dr. Viorica Tincutza put into jail including important names of Ionescu who shared with him the same Romanian political and cultural life: Nae passion for both medicines - surgery above Ionescu, , Grigore For Ńu. all- and medical history. Dr. Gomoiu died Dr. Victor Gomoiu was among them. Once on the 6 th February 1960, at 78 years of their innocence was proved they were age. released. [4] In 1941, he stood in front of the Martial Court for having revealed the toxic effects of Prontosyl abusively given to soldiers, whereas, in December 1918, he refused to mystify the necropsy results of some victims of the dramatic typographers` strike in Bucharest. In 1942, Queen Mother Elena learned from Dr. Victor Gomoiu that a new group of Jews was to be sent to Transnistria and how miserable their condition was. Seemingly, Barbu L ăzăreanu (Lazarovici) (1881-1957), a Romanian Jewish literary historian and publicist, member of the Romanian Academy, informed his friend, Dr. Gomoiu, about this scheduled deportation and was himself finally saved due to Gomoiu`s intervention with the royal family. Later, the constant defence of the Jews against fascist persecution, enabled by her Fig. no.1. Dr. Victor Gomoiu decisive influence on her son, King Michael, earned Queen Elena the title “Righteous among Nations” conferred by Political interferences and civic Yad Vashem. [5] consciousness Dr. Victor Gomoiu developed a Since he was a good and extremely multifaceted activity based on his interest honest manager, in 1929 Dr. Gomoiu was and skills in surgery, social medical appointed Technical Counselor and in projects and history of medicine. His 1930 General Secretary at the Ministry of intransigent character made him suffer Health. Eventually he was Minister of throughout his entire lifetime. In 1945- D. BARAN : Dr. Victor Gomoiu, Balkan paradigms and lessons of a lifetime 139

1946, Gomoiu took part in debates on the Unfortunately, following the revolution foundation of a social-christian party, able of 1989, other problems, especially to oppose communism. In 1950, after economical, but also moral ones, impeded having lost almost all his goods, due to the full valorization of this great spiritual nationalization, after having witnessed the heritage. partial destruction of his archives, when 68 Thus, in 1996, the “Gomoiu” History of year old, he was imprisoned by the Medicine and Pharmacy Museum in communists and spent approximately five was itself dismantled after the years in prison. [7] building retrocession to former owners. The imprisonment was due to his closeness to the «exploiting class», to the Dr. Victor Gomoiu, the surgeon Royal Family of Romania, and his position Victor Gomoiu was professor, of Minister of Health under a previous practitioner and passionate researcher in regime. the field of surgery and topographic The real cause was his constant refusal anatomy. to «enroll» and cooperate with the In the domain of surgery, Victor communist government, give up Gomoiu greatly contributed to plastic correspondence with foreign scientists, surgery, sympathetic system surgery, deny his friends, and formally recognize traumatology and urology, imagining and the new political order. Gomoiu could not implementing new operatory techniques worship these international and national and procedures. «last-minute masters» whose portraits Cervical sympathectomy was such a already replaced, even in his office, personal procedure, often recommended in beloved figures: Stalin - Queen Elena; Ana treating angina pectoris crises. Pauker and an unknown woman - his Solarectomy was another original method. “marvelous angels”, his two deceased little His approaches were appreciated by the girls; another bearded man - his father. [7] French surgeon René Leriche (1879-1955), After the relative opening of the famous for his pain and sympathetic communist camp towards a more humane system surgery. [6] attitude, in 1964, Dr.Gomoiu was From 1903 to 1905 Dr. Gomoiu rehabilitated and his heritage officially specialised in the surgical clinique of the reconsidered. reputed professor Thoma Ionescu (1878- Monographs, communications and 1885). Professor Ionescu studied medicine studies were dedicated to him. In 1970, his and law in Paris. widow, Dr. Viorica Gomoiu participated He was awarded the Laborie prize of with a communication in the XXII-nd the Surgery Academy in Paris, and the Congress of the ISHM held in Bucharest silver medal for surgery, as laureate of the once more. In 1972, she accepted to donate Hospitals in Paris. Dr. Gomoiu`s remnant collections and He was an anatomy agrégé between other personal objects to the History of 1892-1895 in the French capital, and in Medicine Museum founded in Craiova, 1895 returned to Romania. under the auspices of the local University Thoma Ionescu pioneered anaesthetic and its Faculty of Medicine. [6)] surgical procedures and in 1919 published Soon it became a famous establishment in Paris, at Masson et Cie Editing House, a and gathered some other important momograph on «General Rachianesthesia» collections belonging to towering where cervical anaesthesia was described. personalities of Romanian medicine. [1] 140 Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Bra ov • Vol. 6 (51) - 2009 • Series VI

That is probably why the very young the basis a medical, social and cultural dr. Gomoiu had to share with his master establishment at the periphery of the success of his own cervical Bucharest, in the district named “Bariera sympathectomy method for angina pectoris Vergului” (“The Verg`s Barrier”). [10] pain management, a fact that seriously Vartolomei Vergu (Vergo or Virgo) had afflicted him. [6] been a medieval merchant, civic dignitary, More operatory procedures were given lord steward and diplomat at his name, e.g. Gomoiu-Eden method for Brâncoveanu`s and Cantacuzino`s Court, the myoplastic treatment of facial in 1693-1697. In the XX-th century, this paralysis, or the Gomoiu-Phocas method muddy zone was the land of the for the surgical management of inguinal- disinherited “poor and ignorant” people. scrotal hernia. [8, 10] For accomplishing his utopist dream In 1906, Dr. Gomoiu was member of with the scarce available funds, most of the editorial board of „Spitalul” („The which originated in his own financial Hospital”) journal [6, 10] Along with Drs. contribution, Dr.Gomoiu offered to assist Gr. Georgescu and V. S ăvescu, he edited patients of this hospital without any fee for the shortlived publication „Le journal de 10 years. Money was also donated by the chirurgie de Bucarest”, (“The Bucharest «Princess Elena» charity foundation. Surgical Journal”) directed by professor Dr. Gomoiu`s idea seemed to many a Constantin Angelescu. Only few issues of Don Quixote’s foolish initiative and was it appeared. [12] harshly criticized. Victor Gomoiu himself adapted the The Balkan Wars initial architectural building plans, Dr. Gomoiu participated in the Balkan enabling more sections to be created: Wars (1912-1913). internal medicine, surgery, obstetrics and In October 1912, he left Bucharest, gynecology, pediatrics and stomatology. leading a Romanian sanitary ambulance to An Institute for Social and Charity Nurses Turkey. and a public bath were included, too. One month later, with the agreement of "The Vergului barrier complex for the Turkish Red Crescent, he organized a medical-social assistance", the accom- field hospital at Dede Agath. [7, ]8] plishment of which he personally carefully For his successful effort, the Turkish surveyed, was comprised of 10 medical government conferred upon him the specialty offices, 60 beds, a pharmacy and „” order and „The Red Crescent” two laboratories, and was cited as a model Medal, whereas the Romanian authorities institution by the Sanitary Department of awarded him the Silver Medal of the Red the in Geneva. [10] Cross and the „Bravery and Loyalty” To the hospital, a popular Athénée for Medal, I-st class. Dr. Gomoiu was also educational programs, a cinema, a park and mobilised during the two World Wars. [7] a church were added. Gomoiu and other After World War I he was awarded the outstanding intellectuals gave conferences Légion d`Honneur. there, aimed at common people eman- cipation through culture and knowledge. Dr. Gomoiu, the benefactor Gomoiu was awarded the „Djuvara” In 1925, Dr. Gomoiu was appointed prize for his lectures. The first meetings of manager of the «Princess Elena» charity the Romanian Society for the History of foundation. Medicine took place equally there. In 1925, he courageously decided to lay Sanitary education held a privileged place, D. BARAN : Dr. Victor Gomoiu, Balkan paradigms and lessons of a lifetime 141 and focused on the fight against Dr. Gomoiu, historian of medicine alcoholism, tabacco dependence, tuber- and sciences culosis, pellagra, malaria, various In 1929, Dr. Gomoiu founded the infectious or job related diseases, hypnosis . Romanian Royal Society for the History of It aimed at a science- and ethics-based Medicine, Pharmacy, Veterinary Medicine comprehension of the surrounding world and Medical Folklore (RSHM), another and facts. visionary attempt of this true «Knight of Similar lectures were given by Gomoiu the Sad Figure» of his time. at the "House of Light" cultural center in Between 1929 and 1946, Dr. Gomoiu Turnu Severin. was general secretary, president and The «Vergului Complex» also known honorary president of the RSHM. The as the «Princess Elena Establishments», Society had also a valuable Museum, was directed by Dr. Gomoiu until 1948, decommissioned after 1947. [7] when it was nationalized, immediatly after Valeriu Bologa, a well known the King`s forced abdication and leave for Romanian historian of medicine, too, exile. confessed in his study “Wheat Grains” Victor Gomoiu also founded several (“Boabe de grâu”) that he himself thought tuberculosis preventoria on the Teleajean Gomoiu`s intention of creating a Valley, at Brebu and Mâneciu-Ungureni, Romanian Society for the History of the latter bearing now his name Medicine was quite unrealistic since rather («Dr.Gomoiu» Preventorium), two others few medical historians existed by then in at Baba Runca and an Ńuri, not far from the great academic centers of Romania: Bra ov, and one in at the seaside. Bucharest, Cluj and Ia i. [10] Time instead proved that Gomoiu was A school was named after him at Vânju right and his efforts paid off. Professors Mare, his birthplace and his bust by Ilie Constantin D. Severeanu (1840-1930), the Berindei stands today in front of this 1st RSHM president, and college. supported Gomoiu and the young RSHM. Following World War II, the «Princess [6, 10] Elena» Establishments had to be renamed In 1932, the RSHM was entrusted with "Saint Helen" and after the «storm of preparing the IX th Congress of the nationalization», they became the "30 th International Society for the History of December" Pediatric Hospital. [6, 7] Medicine (ISHM), to which it was The latter denomination was a token of affiliated. the historic proclamation of the republic in This first congress took place in 1947 . Romania, in Bucharest. The renowned In 1990, after the 1989 Romanian historian (1871-1940) was Revolution, the Hospital was rebaptised in directly involved in the manifestation as its the name of «Dr.Victor Gomoiu». In 2004, vice-president. Gomoiu, as president, and it was enlarged and updated. his wife, as general secretary, were the It presently counts 184 beds, main organizers of this event. Professor departments of pediatric internal medicine, Cantacuzino (1863-1934), minister of neurology, otorhinolaryngology, two health (1931-1932), was then the RSHM compartments of intensive therapy units president. and an external section for disabled The Bucharest Faculty of Medicine children. partly tempted to boycott the RSHM and the Congress, but King Carol II`s support 142 Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Bra ov • Vol. 6 (51) - 2009 • Series VI granted the final success of the meeting. A dedicated historian of medicine, Dr. (7) The King opened the Congress in state, Gomoiu was also a skilled and inventive as president of honour. [11] surgeon and devoted anthropologist. Many Subsequently, from 1933 to 1936, Dr. of his papers were awarded important Gomoiu was elected vice-president, from prizes. [6, 10] 1936 to 1946, president and then from 1946 to 1960 honorary president of the Victor Gomoiu and Petre Sergescu ISHM. [1, 6, 11] Gomoiu was particularly close to Petre He equally was member of about 50 Sergescu. national and international scientific Native of the same Mehedinti County, societies and academies. (6, 10) Along member of the Romanian Academy with the mathematician Petre Sergescu (1937), president of the IAHS (1947- (1893-1954) and the physician Valeriu 1950), after having been its vice-president Bologa (1892-1971), he belonged to the (1937–1947) and future executive National Group who represented Romania secretary of the IUHS (1947–1954), to the International Academy for the Sergescu replaced Mieli as IAHS perpetual History of Sciences (IAHS) [2, 3, 6] secretary in 1950. He was director of the Concurrently, he was member of the collection «Travaux sur l’histoire des International Union for the History of mathématiques» in Paris and chief editor Sciences (IUHS). [6] and director of the «Archives In 1937, Gomoiu became corres- Internationales d’Histoire des Sciences, la ponding member, and in 1947 effective Nouvelle Série d’Archeion». «Archeion» member of the IAHS. [2, 3] journal, Mieli founded in 1927, continued This society established by Aldo Mieli his «Archivio di Storia della Scienza», first (1879-1950 ) in Paris, in 1929, numbered edited in 1919, in Rome. [2, 3] six other founder-members: Abel Rey Sergescu exiled himself to France when (philosopher), George Sarton (chemist), communists ascended to power in Henry E. Sigerist (physician), Charles Romania. His secretary, René Taton Singer (physician), Karl Sudhoff (1915-2004) helped him overcome (physician), Lynn Thorndike (historian). censorship and keep in touch with Gomoiu All these three physicians were and Romania. [7] celebrated historians of medicine with whom Professor Victor Gomoiu Dr. Gomoiu and Balkan countries collaborated. Dr.Gomoiu developed friendly In 1936, the VIII-th IAHS Meeting (1-st relationships with Balkan countries and IAHS extraordinary international meeting their representatives to the ISHM. or «little congress») took place in He devoted medical historical studies to Bucharest and Cluj, organized by the Balkan traditional medicine, since archaic Romanian Group, as mentioned in the ethnomedicine survived longer in this part Academy`s journal ”Archeion” (1936, 18: of the world and shared related elements 204-226). and mentality patterns. The RSHM held a solemn session on In 1932, during the IX-th ISHM Appril 15, 1936 in Bucharest, on this very Congress in Bucharest he envisaged the occasion. In 1981, Bucharest hosted the foundation of the «Centre for Medical- XVI-th International Congress of the IAHS, Ethnographic Studies in South-East too. [2, 3] Europe». One of Gomoiu`s supporters was Ioan D. BARAN : Dr. Victor Gomoiu, Balkan paradigms and lessons of a lifetime 143

Cantacuzino, member of the Romanian post- Academy and president of the RSHM, by World War II circumstances, Valeriu then. Gomoiu`s attitude earned him the Bologa had chosen a different, more titles of honorary member of the Greek “materialistic” way. [7] Society for the History of Medicine Bologa bowed to political pressure and (Athenes, 1932), honorary member of the advised Gomoiu to accept reality. But for Association of the Serbian, Croatian and Gomoiu «moral death seemed more Slovene Physicians (, 1933), serious than physical decay». member of the «Hippocrates» Society in It was unbearable for the intransigent Belgrad (1939); honorary member of the Gomoiu who, to metamorphosing into a Turkish Society for the History of «new man», preferred martyrdom and the Medicine (Istambul, 1940). [6, 10] final «judgement of history» which gave him a sense of relief. Bologa, instead, Resistance and correspondence coped with the new social order and After 1946, Dr.Victor Gomoiu was political rules. marginalized by the communist regime. Gomoiu exceptionally pioneered and He ostentatively refused to integrate the sanctioned medical historical research in new political and ideological realities of Romania; Bologa exceptionally developed his country, even though he turned down this domain and became a reference author the royal family`s proposal to accompany of classic writings and of the first them in their exile. handbooks. He simply tried to resist imposture and President of the RSHM (1949-1971) fight for his country and people, for his and vice-president of the ISHM (1964- credo, to the end of his life, assuming the 1970), Bologa organized in 1970 the supreme sacrifice. [7] XXII nd ISHM Congress in Bucharest and Immediately after 1945, communists Constantza, the second of this kind in imposed their own rigorous laws. Romania. Opposing psychological pressure and Which was the right choice for ostracization, Gomoiu maintained his intellectuals under «the terror of history»? correspondence with former friends and This still is both a Romanian and Balkan collaborators: Tricot-Royer, Giordano, dilemma, another tragic «riddle of Siegerist, Castiglioni, Diepgen, Pazzini, history». Guiart, Verhoeven, Sergescu. Letters were censored and details had to References be unvoiced or subtly implied. Western [1]. Bologa V. L., Br ătescu G. et al., Istoria correspondents had a faint idea about what medicinei române ti, Ed. Medical ă, was going on beyond the iron curtain. Bucure ti, 1972. When addressing colleagues from the [2]. Colan H., Petre Sergescu, historien des communist camp, e.g., Bulgaria or sciences ou la fascination de la Yugoslavia, Gomoiu`s language became générosité, à travers quelques more sympathetic and even direct. [7] souvenirs, Noesis, Académie They were experiencing a similar tragedy. Roumaine, 2006, 30-31: 195-204. [3]. Colan H., Bref historique du Behavioural paradigms and the développement de l’histoire des lessons of history sciences et des techniques en Victor Gomoiu`s memoirs reveal his Roumanie. Noesis, Académie disappointment that under the particular Roumaine, 2002, XXVII: 95–100. 144 Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Bra ov • Vol. 6 (51) - 2009 • Series VI

[4]. Constantin Gh., erbu M., Mini trii de [9]. Priminescu R. M., Evolu Ńia activit ăŃ ii interne (1862-2007) – mic ă enci- institutelor de cercetare, reflectat ă în clopedie, Ed. Ministerului Internelor documentele fondului arhivistic i Reformei Administrative, na Ńional, Noema, 2009, III: 550-566. Bucure ti, 2007: 252. [10]. Scheau M, Olaru A, Simpozion [5]. Deletant D., Memoriul unor Victor Gomoiu, Universitatea intelectuali români c ătre Palat în vara Craiova, 1972. 1942, Sfera Politicii,2004,107:49-53. [11]. Sondervorst F. A., Backward Glance [6]. Du Ńescu B., Victor Gomoiu, Ed. at the International Society for the Medical ă, Bucure ti, 1970, 103. History of Medicine 1920-1982, [7]. Gomoiu V., Memorii (vol. VI), Ed. www.bium.univ- Sitech, Craiova, 2006-2007, 167- paris5.fr/ishm/eng/hist 285. [12]. Târcoveanu E., Ernest Juvara, J Chir, [8]. Iancu t., Dezvoltarea tiin Ńei i Iasi, 2005, 1, 4: 469-475. tehnicii în perioada interbelic ă, Noema, 2003, II, 2: 130- 133.