A review of Dr Simarro’s neurohistological legacy

J. J. Zarranz Imirizaldu
Neurosciences and History 2021;9(4): 157-173

Type of article: ORIGINAL

AUTHOR

J. J. Zarranz Imirizaldu
Emeritus professor of neurology. Department of Neurosciences, Universidad del País Vasco, Barakaldo, Spain.

ABSTRACT

Introduction. Dr Luis Simarro (1851-1921) was a prominent figure in Spanish medicine and psychology, and also participated in numerous other social, cultural, and political activities. In his youth, philosophical and scientific influences led him to develop a keen interest in the anatomy, physiology, and histology of the central nervous system and to study neurology and psychiatry. Upon his death, Simarro left a collection of histological sections that have not previously been studied in detail.

Material and methods. The author selected and took photomicrographs of 20 histological sections of normal and pathological tissue from Simarro’s collection.

Results. The histological preparations of normal tissue included in this study demonstrate Simarro’ s mastery of histological technique. Two preparations, one stained with the Golgi technique and the other with the reduced silver nitrate method, are particularly interesting from a historical viewpoint. The neuropathological preparations selected display a wide range of diseases, including multiple sclerosis, syringomyelia, transverse myelitis, and tabes dorsalis.

Conclusions. This review of Simarro’ s collection of histological sections confirms his extensive abilities as a histologist and neuropathologist; this, combined with his excellent clinical skills, could also have led him to become the first great professor of neurology, psychiatry, and neuropathology of Spain.

KEYWORDS

Simarro, Cajal, Golgi, Marchi, Weigert, histology, neuropathology

Neurosciences and History 2021;9(4): 157-173