[A tribute to Manoel da Gama Lobo (1835-1883), pioneer in the epidemiology of vitamin A deficiency in Brazil].

This analysis of the contributions of Manoel da Gama Lobo (physician born in Pará), to the epidemiology of vitamin A deficiency in Brazil focuses primarily on "Da oftalmia brasiliana" [On Brazilian ophthalmia], originally published in 1865. An analysis of Gama Lobo's academic trajectory, and especially of this work, points up the tight ties between the scientist and doctors within the Escola de Medicina Tropicalista Baiana. Although one cannot claim that Gama Lobo was a proponent of the ideas of the abolitionist movement, some passages of "Da oftalmia brasiliana" lead us to recognize this scientist at the very least as an advocate of Brazilian slaves' human right to food.