[Nicolás León, pioneer figure in the history of medicine].
OBJECTIVE
To study Nicolás León (1859-1929) as historian of medicine, field in which he left 48 publications, out of a total of approximately 525.


METHODS
Most of the information analyzed is supported by primary sources, written by León himself.


RESULTS
Nicolás León contributed mainly to present a general outlook of the history of medicine in Mexico, obstetrics being the field which he most thoroughly investigated, from Prehispanic period up to León's own times. The fact that he faced problems in order to obtain information, made him not only write, but also compile scattered data and uncommon or peculiar works.


CONCLUSIONS
Nicolás León can be considered as one of the pioneers in the history of medicine, field which he enthusiastically encouraged, first from the city where he was born in the State of Michoacán, and later on, in Mexico City. In fact, we may assure that he was much more important as a historian of medicine than as a physician.
D000885:Anthropology, Physical / Q000266:history; D005260:Female; D006666:History of Medicine; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American; D008800:Mexico; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000266:history