Garcia d'Orta

Abstract

Garcia d 'Orta, is one of tbe most important caracters in tbe bistory of Portuguese medi­cine. He gave an important scientific contribution to the world, increasing our understan­ding in many different areas such as Botantes, Hygiene, Epidemiology, Climatology, Hydrol-Ogy, General Therapeutics, Tropical Medicine, Hos­pital Practice and Medical Deontology.

Garcia d'Orta fought against the traditio­nal empirical theories. All his knowledge was based on experimental metbodology. ln "Colóquios dos Simples e Drogas", one of the most important pharmacological books of tbe XVI century, he describes the most rare oriental plants and their medical applications in human beings. He also gives us a magnificent picture of the Oriental society of that century.