[Cardiology of yesterday, today and tomorrow]

The subject of this lecture has been chosen in relation to the contribution that Professor H Alessandri made in the first half of this century, as an outstanding clinician in the professional, humanistic and ethical development of generations of physicians in this country. This lecture is divided in three sections: the first reviews the practice of cardiology in the 50's, a period of initiation of the present advances in the specialty, still dominated at that time by a semiologic and clinical approach. The second part presents examples of the significant contributions made by newer technologies in the fields of echocardiography, nuclear medicine, electrophysiology and therapeutic procedures. Finally, an assessment is made of the needed balance between technology and clinical judgement, coupled with humanistic and ethical considerations in the management of patients.