The many facets of a 19th-century village doctor

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:“Kisses are tears”: https://a.co/d/eCok2Y0

When humanism reigned in Medicine

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

Medicine and Pharmacy in 19th-Century Rural Society

The book that chronicles the biography of the Daimiel-born doctor Gaspar Fisac Orovio (Daimiel, 1859-1937), originally published in Spain under the title “Médico, periodista y poeta” (Doctor, Journalist, and Poet), has now been translated into English as “Kisses are tears”, a title referencing one of his most memorable poems.
 
This book is not merely the biography of this multifaceted doctor—a true visionary ahead of his time—nor solely that of his brother Deogracias (a pharmacist, politician, and journalist). Rather, it provides a well-documented overview of what medicine and pharmacy were like in 19th-century rural society.
 
For this reason, its translation into English will make the historical and social knowledge of that era accessible to English-speaking audiences. This represents a significant temporal and geographical leap, one well-deserved by a figure whose life and work continue to astonish.
 
Both titles, “Médico, periodista y poeta” (Spanish edition) and “Kisses are tears” (English edition), are available on Amazon in eBook and print formats.
 

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 

Kisses are tears

This book revives the story of the Spanish doctor Gaspar Fisac Orovio (1859–1937, Daimiel, Ciudad Real), encompassing not only his personal journey and the rural milieu of his time but also his research, contributions to medicine, and passion for journalism, poetry, and theater. Alongside him stands the brief, intense, and tragic life of his brother Deogracias, a pharmacist, politician, and journalist who founded the newspaper El Eco de Daimiel (1885–1890), which Gaspar took over after Deogracias’s death.

Across five comprehensive chapters—“The Man,” “The Brother,” “The Doctor,” “The Journalist,” and “The Poet”—readers will be astonished by the medical practices of that era and the pioneering initiatives of these two brothers.
 
A well-documented exploration of Medicine, Pharmacy, and rural society in the 19th century.
 
Amazon: eBook and print edition.
 
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

The author of Worth Reading

Born in Madrid, Spain, in 1949, Vicente Fisac grew up in Daimiel, Ciudad Real, where he began writing stories at the tender age of eight and poetry at thirteen, under the special guidance of teachers Eloy Rada García (during his childhood) and Manuel Prieto Peromingo (during his adolescence). After studying advertising, he fully committed to the world of communication, where he developed his entire professional career at the helm of the Communication Department for various international organizations and companies. He initially worked for six years at Latino-Syntex Pharmaceuticals; after a brief stint at Bristol Myers Squibb, he joined a small national lab, Sociedad Ibérica de Estudios Terapéuticos Aplicados, where he worked for five years before moving to AstraZeneca Group, where he served for 24 years. Finally, he joined the Spanish Medical Association (OMC), where he worked for four years until his retirement.
 
His entry into AstraZeneca came in 1983 when he was hired by the agrochemical division of Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) – the British part which later became AstraZeneca - represented in Spain at that time by Zeltia Agraria (a joint venture between the British company ICI and the Spanish company Zeltia). As Advertising Manager, he enhanced communication and actively participated in the transformation of the company, which soon became fully ICI and was renamed ICI-Zeltia. At ICI-Zeltia, he established a Press Office – previously nonexistent - and collaborated with the group's headquarters in Spain to boost communication across all business areas, implementing measures like "Communication Days" for all group companies and disseminating news about the group's activities to the media.
 
When ICI split into two independent companies in 1993, and its bioscience division was renamed Zeneca, he joined the pharmaceutical division, previously known as ICI-Farma in Spain, now Zeneca Pharma. Here, he established and led the Press Office, actively collaborating with the London headquarters to open up the company to society, sharing all its activities and achievements through transparent, open, accessible, and proactive communication policies, supported by Alfredo Rubín, president in Spain, and David Barnes, international CEO.
 
In 1998, with the merger of Astra and Zeneca, he was appointed as Country Communication Manager and directed the Press Office, which saw an increase in both staffing and budget under the leadership of the new Spanish president, Carlos Trias, who was aware of the informational openness era faced by the new global pharmaceutical group led by Tom McKillop, and incorporated him into the Executive Committee. In the following years, he conducted extensive communication work, issuing constant press releases, managing interviews, addressing media inquiries, organizing press conferences and press trips, resulting in over 2,000 news articles published annually about the company and its products in Spanish media.
 
He was part of international Communication Committees, working in teams with communication heads in other countries. He edited and directed the magazine "Información al Día," which had two monthly editions, one for all employees and another for doctors, journalists, and external collaborators, keeping it active for eight years (87 monthly issues) until he left the company.
 
He founded and led the digital health information newspaper "AZprensa," which he positioned as the second most-read digital health newspaper in Spain (with over 360,000 monthly visits) due to its credibility (in fact, it was the only case in history where a pharmaceutical company's information outlet included news from other pharmaceutical companies). Later, in his final professional phase at the Spanish Medical Association (OMC), he launched and directed the digital newspaper "Médicos y Pacientes."
 
He spoke at communication congresses (Aipet, Amifa, Fisalud, etc.) and conducted educational work through courses and master's programs in communication (Complutense University of Madrid, King Juan Carlos University of Madrid; Pharmaceutical Marketing Days; etc.). He was a founding member and treasurer of the Association of Communication Professionals in the Pharmaceutical Industry (ACOIF) and placed AstraZeneca among the top ranks for transparency in pharmaceutical companies. He was a member of the National Association of Health Journalists (ANIS), the Ibero-American Association of Specialized and Technical Journalists (AIPET), and the Communication Committee of Professional Union (UP). He authored numerous articles on Communication and Journalism. He has written various books on a wide range of topics (novels, history, communication, poetry, humor, etc.), all available on Amazon (eBook and print). He maintains blogs like:
"El eco de Fisac" (AZprensa) - https://azpressnews.blogspot.com

"Palabras inefables" - https://palabrasinefables.blogspot.com
 
In 2005, he received numerous recognitions for his professional work. Notable among these were his second place as the best communication director and the most transparent lab by PR Noticias magazine, his selection among the top ten communication directors in the pharmaceutical industry by the Sanitaria 2000 editorial group, and his digital newspaper AZprensa being nominated as a finalist for "Best Health Initiative" at the 2005 Fundamed Awards, a project previously awarded as one of the best health initiatives by Diario Médico, the leading medical press newspaper. Finally, he was named "Personality of the Year" in health communication by PR Noticias in 2005. In May 2012, after his retirement, he received recognition for his work during his last professional stint at the Spanish Medical Association by the Communication Officers of Medical Colleges at their Seventh National Congress.
 

“Life debt” (Vicente Fisac, Amazon): https://a.co/d/hono34C