Analyzing the theses presented by the students of the Medical-Surgical School of Porto, between 1837 and the beginning of the XXth century, we noted an increase not only of the number of theses on matters related to children, but also, in the last 25 years of the XIXth century, of the diversity of themes studied. In fact, besides such traditional themes as pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum, treated in a more updated fashion, others emerged as those related to some children diseases or to the institutions dedicated to childhood. By the turn of the XXth century, schooling also started to be addressed in the hygienist discourse. Yet, it was not restricted to the environmental conditions of the premises, but intended to interfere in the pedagogical field, considering that the scientific pedagogy that was being constructed could not be carried out but grounded on the medical knowledge.
Child; Education; Schooling; Hygiene; Medicine