[On Academics and Academicians. Historical sketch]

First Academies originated in Italy at the beginnings of the Renaissance. Their works were of encyclopedic extent. Regarding to scientific academies, the first was the "Accademia dei Lincei" founded in Rome on August 17, 1603, due to the initiative of four young men; three naturalists and a physician. Later, several distiguished scientists were admitted, such as Giambattista della Porta, inventor of the dark chamber (1610) and Galileo Galilei (1611). This Academy sponsored the publication of a compendium of Francisco Hernández manuscripts, prepared by the Italian physician Antonio Nardo Recchi. Many years later, other scientific academies arose, such as the "Accademia del Cimento", established in 1657 in Florence and inspired by Galilean thought. In 1662, the "Royal Society" of London, was formally recognized, following Bacon's empirical line, and in 1666 the "Académie Royale des Sciences" was created in Paris, which followed the mechanicist orientation of Descartes. These scientific societies aspired to become centers of information and exchange ideas. Therefore, the "Philosophical Transactions" in London and the "Journal des Savants" in Paris began to be published in 1665. Both publications often included medical articles and notes. Regarding New Spain, the worthy "Academia médico-quirúrgica" of Puebla, mentioned since 1802, must be considered. In independent Mexico, two successive medical academies were established that paved the way for our National Academy of Medicine (1864). This society, since its birth, has been publishing the "Gaceta Médica de México", dean of the Mexican medical journals.