Hospital del Divino Salvador

Hospital del Divino Salvador
Geography
Location	Donceles street, Historic center of Mexico City, Mexico
Coordinates	(approximate)
Organisation
Type	Specialist
Specialty	Psychiatric hospital
History
Opened	1687
Closed	1910
Links
Lists	Hospitals in Mexico

The Hospital del Divino Salvador was the first hospital established in Mexico City for the treatment of mentally ill women. It was founded in 1687 by José de Sáyago and archbishop Francisco de Aguiar y Seijas. The hospital was sponsored by the El Divino Salvador congregation, which was founded in La Casa Profesa of the Society of Jesus.

In 1700, the hospital was moved to a better location on La Canoa street (Donceles street). Under the congregation's care, the hospital became one of the best in the treatment of mentally ill women. However, after the Suppression of the Society of Jesus in 1767, the hospital's services declined.

In the early 19th century, the hospital underwent a redesign by Viceroy Felix Berenguer de Marquina. The renovations were completed in 1809. After the independence of Nueva España, the hospital came under the control of the City and later the Sisters of Charity in 1847.

In 1910, the women at the hospital were moved to the new General Asylum "la Castañeda". The original hospital building now houses offices of the Secretary of Health and the historical record of the institution. It is located on Donceles street in the Historic center of Mexico City.

See also

• List of Colonial government and civil buildings in Mexico City

Sources

• Muriel, Josefina. “El modelo arquitectónico de los hospitales para dementes en la Nueva España”, Sobretiro de Retablo barroco a la Memoria de Francisco de la Maza, pp. 116–125.
• --------, Hospitales de la Nueva España. Fundaciones de los siglos XVII y XVIII, t.1 y 2, México, Jus, 1960.