Abstract
Eugenics, since its development as a scientific theory by Francis Galton, had widespread in several countries during the first half of the 20th century. Coming from a period of intense discussion about heredity, influence of the environment and degeneration, Eugenics assumed different references in the composition of its proposals, resulting in a very heterogeneous and multifaceted theoretical set. This paper aim is to analyze the diffusion of eugenic ideas in the speeches of the Sociedade de Medicina de Porto Alegre. Having as object of study the institution’s journal, Archivos Rio Grandenses de Medicina, we seek to understand how eugenic science shaped the view of certain physicians not only on the subjects like venereal diseases and infectious-contagious pathologies, but also on topics such as reproduction, motherhood, early childhood, addictions and mortality.
Keywords
Eugenics; medicine; diseases; racial poisons; nation