2001, Number 1
Notes on the history of the O'Horan Hospital, Mérida, Yucatan, Mexico.
Cervera-Andrade A
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Language: Spanish
References: 0
Page: 63-74
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ABSTRACT
The first hospital in the city of Merida,Yucatan was founded almost immediately after the spanish conquist. In 1550, during the rule of the first town mayor Mr. Gaspar Suarez de Avila, the idea took shape and it became reality on May 18, 1562. Years later, the hospital was transformed into a hospital/convent, the construction was finished in 1625 and it was named Hospital San Juan de Dios. At the same time, Don Diego García de Montalvo began building a church or hermitage in the east of the city for the Monasterio de Recoletos and he donated it to the Saint Franciscan Order of the church, it was named the Iglesia de la Mejorada and it was inaugurated January 22, 1640. From 1688 to 1694 the building was adapted so "it could be used as a hospital for the Franciscan Friars" at the same time, and this had to survive and become more important. On May 30, 1821, towards the end of the colonial period, a decree of the spanish court expelled the Juaninos and moved the hospital to the ex-franciscan convent's building. hen independence from the Spanish Throne was declared, the new authorities returned the hospital to the Juaninos because at the town council's incompetence to sustain it. It returned to the same place as before and was renamed Hospital General de San Juan de Dios, in 1828. The State Government took charge of the hospital under the name of the Hospital General de Merida on February 10, 1832. In 1862, Dr. Agustin O'Horan y Escudero recomended that the hospital general which was in the same place donated by Gaspar Suarez de Avila, 300 years previosly should be "moved to another less central place and the chosen location was the old franciscan convent in Mejorada". It stayed there until 1906 when it was moved to the vast location where it can still be found today, in the west of Merida, Yucatan. After the death of Dr. Agustin O'Horan in order to perpetuate the memory of such a grand doctor. The actual hospital was inaugurated February 6, 1906 and was in service from March of the very sane year.