Cypriano Barbosa Bettâmio (1818–1855) was a Brazilian medical doctor who died volunteering to lead efforts in fighting the

cholera Cholera () is an infection of the small intestine by some Strain (biology), strains of the Bacteria, bacterium ''Vibrio cholerae''. Symptoms may range from none, to mild, to severe. The classic symptom is large amounts of watery diarrhea last ...

epidemic in the state of

Bahia Bahia () is one of the 26 Federative units of Brazil, states of Brazil, located in the Northeast Region, Brazil, Northeast Region of the country. It is the fourth-largest Brazilian state by population (after São Paulo (state), São Paulo, Mina ...

in 1855.

Early years

Bettâmio was born in

Salvador, Bahia Salvador () is a Municipalities of Brazil, Brazilian municipality and capital city of the Federative units of Brazil, state of Bahia. Situated in the Zona da Mata in the Northeast Region, Brazil, Northeast Region of Brazil, Salvador is recognize ...

, March 3, 1818, to Jerônimo Barbosa and Cristódia Maria Pires. He attended the Faculdade de Medicina da Bahia, receiving his diploma as a medical doctor in 1847. He then established a small clinic, where he tended to the local population.

Cholera epidemic

In 1855, a cholera epidemic broke out in Salvador and in nearby Santo Amaro da Purificação, eventually killing approximately 50,000 people. A widespread flight of people, fearing for their lives, included medical personnel and public officials. Doctor Bettâmio noted the public panic and told his wife and children goodbye with the expression “''Felismina, até a volta, se não for torta''!” and took charge of efforts in fighting the epidemic. He tended to the sick and led efforts to remove and bury the dead, until he too eventually caught the disease and died.

Aftermath

Because of his valiant efforts, Bettâmio's widow was awarded a pension by the

Emperor of Brazil The monarchs of Brazil (Portuguese language, Portuguese: ''monarcas do Brasil'') were the imperial head of state, heads of state and hereditary rulers of Brazil from the House of Braganza that reigned from the creation of the Brazilian monarchy ...

Note

Cypriano Barbosa Bettâmio is also known as Cipriano Barboza Betâmio and Cipriano Betâmio.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bettamio, Cypriano Barbosa 1818 births 1855 deaths 19th-century Brazilian physicians Deaths from cholera People from Salvador, Bahia