The book “Kisses are tears” rescues the biography of a
village doctor, Gaspar Fisac Orovio (Daimiel, Spain, 1859-1937), who stood
out for his multiple facets and, above all, for his quality as a human being. Summarizing
them, we can list some of the most notable: PHYSICIAN - Doctor of Medicine. Official Physician and
forensic doctor of Daimiel. Member of the Daimiel Local Health Board.
Provincial Health Delegate for the Ciudad Real Provincial Council. Awarded by
the Royal Academy of Medicine (Calvo Prize, 1905) and recognized with various
distinctions at medical congresses on tuberculosis (Barcelona, 1912; San
Sebastián, 1913). EPIDEMIOLOGIST - A tireless scholar of the origins,
prevention, and treatment of diseases, he left behind significant studies for
his time on measles and tuberculosis. He discovered that the dust-laden air
breathed by plasterers and lime workers, rich in calcium, immunized them
against tuberculosis. Building on this hypothesis, he established the
scientific foundations that would lead to the development of an innovative
treatment for the disease. INVENTOR - Discoverer of a preventive treatment for
tuberculosis and promoter of the development of the first pharmaceutical
specialty in the form of an inhaler (“Fisac Pulvi-Inhaler”), which was
registered in Spain. He also invented an original device to prevent the spread
of diseases during epidemic periods through stagnant water in holy water fonts. JOURNALIST - A frequent writer and chronicler for the
newspaper El Eco de Daimiel, where he also served as director during his
brother Deogracias’s illness and after his death. He was a correspondent and
contributor to articles in other newspapers of the era. POET - Author of numerous poems, two of which—at least
as far as is known—won awards at literary competitions in Ciudad Real. Many of
his works were published in El Eco de Daimiel and other outlets. PLAYWRIGHT - Author of several short theatrical pieces
(“juguetes”), performed during cultural evenings at the Ayala Theater in
Daimiel. THEATER DIRECTOR AND ACTOR - Stage director for plays
performed at the Ayala Theater in Daimiel and an actor in some of these
productions. ECOLOGIST - Although the term “ecology” was not coined
until 1837, there had long existed a medical movement, the hygienists, who
viewed disease from an “ecological” perspective, seeing it as the result of a complex
interplay of environmental factors (temperature, winds, soil, etc.) and
socioeconomic conditions (poverty, overcrowding, working conditions, etc.).
Gaspar Fisac’s scientific works provide ample evidence of this approach.
A well-documented exploration of Medicine, Pharmacy,
and rural society in the 19th century through two biographies that should not
be forgotten:
Greenland, that vast expanse of ice and tundra at the
northernmost edge of the planet, has caused confusion for centuries due to its
representation on maps. If you’ve ever looked at a traditional world map,
you’ve likely noticed that Greenland appears to be of an enormous size, even
comparable to continents like Africa or South America. However, this is a
cartographic illusion, an inevitable distortion that occurs when transferring
the surface of a sphere—the Earth—onto a two-dimensional plane. In this
article, we will explore the true size of Greenland, how it compares to other
countries, and address the intriguing debate about whether it is truly a single
island or two hidden beneath its ice sheet. Map distortion: The problem with the Mercator projection Most world maps we are familiar with use the Mercator
projection, developed in the 16th century by cartographer Gerardus Mercator.
This projection was designed to aid maritime navigation, as it preserves angles
and allows for straight-line routes. However, it has a significant flaw: it
distorts the size of landmasses, especially near the poles. The farther you
move from the equator, the greater the exaggeration. This is why Greenland and
Antarctica appear massive, while equatorial regions like Africa seem smaller
than they actually are. In a Mercator map, Greenland might appear as large as
Africa, but the reality is quite different. Africa spans approximately 30.37
million square kilometers, while Greenland covers only 2,166,086 square
kilometers. This means Africa is about 14 times larger than Greenland. The
distortion is so extreme that, on some maps, Greenland seems to rival South
America (17.84 million km²), when in reality, it is much smaller. The real size of Greenland and comparisons with other
countries With its 2.16 million square kilometers, Greenland is
undoubtedly a massive island—the largest in the world, in fact—but its true
size comes into perspective when compared to other countries. For example: Australia: At 7.69 million km², it is more than three
times larger than Greenland, though it is often considered a continent rather
than an island. United States: At 9.83 million km² (including Alaska
and Hawaii), it is nearly five times larger. Mexico: At 1.96 million km², it is very similar in
size to Greenland, though slightly smaller. Spain: At just 505,990 km², it could fit into
Greenland about four times. These comparisons show that, while Greenland is vast,
it doesn’t come close to the continental giants that traditional maps might
lead us to believe. Its location near the North Pole amplifies its apparent
size, but in real terms, it is a fraction of what the most common projections
suggest. One island or two? The mystery beneath the ice Another fascinating aspect of Greenland is its
geological nature, which has also fueled debates. Approximately 80% of its
surface is covered by a thick ice sheet, known as the Greenland Ice Sheet,
which in some areas reaches a thickness of 3 kilometers. This ice sheet
conceals much of the underlying terrain, leading to speculation about whether
Greenland is truly a single landmass or several separate islands connected by
ice. Recent geophysical studies, using technologies such as
ice-penetrating radar and gravitational models, have revealed that beneath the
ice sheet, Greenland is indeed a single island in geological terms. While there
are deep depressions and valleys, there is no conclusive evidence that the
bedrock is divided into two or more independent landmasses that would emerge if
the ice were to melt completely. However, the thickness of the ice and the
pressure it exerts have deformed the terrain, creating a complex topography
that can lead to misunderstandings. In a hypothetical scenario where all the ice melted,
Greenland would still be a single island, though its habitable surface would be
much smaller than its total size suggests. Much of its interior is depressed
due to the weight of the ice, and the idea that Greenland consists of two
islands remains more of a myth than a scientific reality. In summary, Greenland is a place of superlatives: the
largest island in the world, almost entirely covered by ice, and a cartographic
enigma that has puzzled generations. Its real size, 2.16 million square kilometers,
places it far below the continents it appears to rival on maps, but it remains
impressive compared to many countries. The next time you look at a world map, remember that
what you see is an interpretation, not reality, and that Greenland, though
vast, occupies a much more modest place in the global landscape than its
distorted image might suggest. In the image, the real size of the countries (in red)
is shown compared to the size they typically appear on maps (in blue).
A
well-documented exploration of Medicine, Pharmacy, and rural society in the
19th century through two biographies that should not be forgotten: “Kisses are tears”: https://a.co/d/eCok2Y0
When we’re born, they put us in diapers popularly
known as “dodotis” (a term derived from the brand that introduced them: Dodot).
Perhaps it’s a subtle foreshadowing of what awaits us in the future:
extinction, much like the dodo (see the image of that charming yet foolish
bird). Just like the dodo, we all pass through this life, leaving behind only a
faint memory that fades with time. I recently heard a line from an old movie that struck
me: the truly valuable thing isn’t what we do or what we own, but the kind
memory others keep of us. Well, in that way, we’re not so different from the
dodo either—a creature so gentle, so naive, that it ended up in the stomachs of
all sorts of diners. There’s no escaping it. No way out. All we can do is
waddle through life cheerfully and clumsily, savoring the moment and bringing
joy to others along the way—and later, through their memories of us. Until,
inevitably, the last faint flicker of that memory dies out in this tiny,
forgotten corner of the universe.
A
well-documented exploration of Medicine, Pharmacy, and rural society in the
19th century through two biographies that should not be forgotten: “Kisses are tears”: https://a.co/d/eCok2Y0
Speaking of medicine and humanism in medicine (how
little of it remains today!), it's fitting to recall the life of one of those
19th-century doctors who exemplified what a good doctor should be. Reading the
book "Kisses are tears" opens the door to that not-so-distant, yet
almost forgotten, past... First, let us say that Gaspar Fisac Orovio (Daimiel,
Spain, 1,859 – 1,937) was a distinguished physician of his time. Though he
served as a municipal doctor in a small town in La Mancha before moving to
Ciudad Real Hospital, he earned professional recognition and prestige not only
for his selflessness and dedication to his patients—always treating them with a
humane and approachable demeanor, so rare today—but also for his discoveries.
Through his research on tuberculosis, he developed the first recorded
preventive and curative treatment for the disease in Spain. His expertise with
numerous epidemics—cholera, typhus, measles, and more—enabled him to establish
a series of hygiene and sanitation measures to curb their spread. His, then,
was a life that saved many lives. Second, we turn to his work as a journalist. He began
by contributing to a newspaper founded by his brother, later taking over its
direction when his sibling’s health declined. That newspaper, El Eco de
Daimiel, became the best-selling publication in Ciudad Real, its influence
reaching far beyond to other corners of Spain. Though it ran for just over five
years, it produced 445 issues. From its pages, it championed ideals of
democracy and justice, as well as a steadfast defense of the healthcare and
journalistic professions. Third, we explore his role as a poet. Though he never
published a book—poetry being, for him, a hobby—he left behind a significant
body of compositions that deserve a place in Spanish literature of the late
19th and early 20th centuries. Evidence of this lies in the awards two of his
works received at literary contests. This passion also led him to write,
direct, and even perform in small theatrical pieces. As we see, his was a multifaceted, active, and
fascinating life—one I hope will spark the interest of many readers. Yet, for
me, the facet that stands out is none of these—not the physician, the
journalist, nor the poet—but rather his quality as a human being. For what is
the worth of our time on this earth if no one, not even our family and friends,
remembers us with affection? In his case, it was not only his loved ones who
held him dear, but all who knew him and all the patients he treated—taking time
for them, caring about their worries and struggles, and helping them however he
could. That is the highest praise one can offer any person: that they were a
good human being. There is no greater distinction, even if, as in his case, he
advanced medicine, pioneered journalism, and excelled as an unsung poet.
A well-documented exploration of Medicine, Pharmacy,
and rural society in the 19th century through two biographies that should not
be forgotten: “Kisses are tears”: https://a.co/d/eCok2Y0
We often trust that what we see, hear, touch, smell,
or taste is reality, but the five senses we rely on so heavily are not as
dependable as we think. They frequently deceive us. Nothing is truly as it
seems—not even when our senses insist it is. Here’s how each of them can betray us: Sight Deceives Us Look at the image accompanying this post: it appears
to move, yet it’s a static image. Optical illusions like this show how easily
our vision—and our perception of reality—can be misled.But the most surprising thing is that it's not a spiral, but rather concentric circles. Check it out! Touch Deceives Us Touch can also be deceptive. Try lightly touching an
object’s surface (without discerning its shape) while blocking your other
senses. You’ll find it challenging to identify what it is. Without the aid of
sight or other senses, touch alone leaves us disoriented. Taste Deceives Us Taste is no exception. For instance, have you ever had
vanilla ice cream? You might think so, but you’d be mistaken. Vanilla isn’t a
flavor—it’s an aroma. Yet our brain interprets it as a taste, completely
fooling us. Smell Deceives Us Smell may be the easiest sense to trick. Enter a room
with a strong scent: after a few minutes, you’ll stop noticing it. The smell
hasn’t disappeared—it’s an illusion. Your olfactory nerve cells become
saturated and stop sending signals to your brain. Or try smelling a flower or
perfume for an extended period: the scent will seem to fade, even though it
remains just as strong as it was initially. Hearing Deceives Us Auditory illusions are rarer but no less striking. A
fascinating example is the Shepard Scale, discovered by psychologist Roger Shepard.
It consists of a tone that repeats at intervals, yet our brain interprets it as
continuously rising. You can hear this illusion on YouTube (for example, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jU1emIwaZc
). Listen to it several times: you’ll be convinced it’s an ascending scale,
even though it’s the same tone repeated unchanged. To confirm, pause the audio,
wait a moment, and play it again; you’ll notice the tone hasn’t shifted. But
without pauses, your hearing will trick you into perceiving a rise. In short, none of our senses are entirely reliable.
They remind us that our perception of the world isn’t always the truth but
rather an interpretation—one that can easily be distorted.
A journey
through the history of the pharmaceutical industry and one of its great
laboratories that had its origins in Alfred Nobel... “From Alfred Nobel to AstraZeneca”: https://a.co/d/9svRTuI
