WI: Carlos Chagas wins the 1921 Nobel Prize of Medicine

Dr. Carlos Chagas (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_Chagas) was a Brazilian scientist that discovered the American trypanosomiasis, also more known as Chagas's Disease. It was a unique case in the history of medicine, because he was the only researcher so far to describe completely a new infectious disease: its pathogen, vector (Triatominae), host, clinical manifestations and epidemiology. Chagas was also the first to discover and illustrate the parasitic fungal genus Pneumocystis, later infamously to be linked to PCP (Pneumocystis pneumonia in AIDS victims).

Well, he was the only candidate for the Nobel Prize of Medicine due his work with Chagas's Disease, but due the machinations of a rival, Dr. Julio Afranio Peixoto, he was not indicated. No one won the Nobel porize for 1921.

About what if Carlos Chagas did win the Nobel Prize of Medicine that year?

How that would affect the scientific and social development of Brazil?
 
Well, firstly, taking a look at some of the recipients at the time, the award seems to have been handed out mostly fo fundamental advances. And several years they didnt hand out any prize at all, they ser the bar so high.

Chagas disease probably wasnt on the very eurocentric science establishments minds, so machinations by an opponent likely arent necessary to explain his not getting it.

As for him winning it, it probably is possible, despite what i said above. But i dont imagine its terribly likely.

If he did win it, it might not make all that much difference.
 
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