21 The Republic of Cuba 



poor mothers and prospective mothers, etc.; all 

 free to those who are unable to pay; the sanitary 

 regulations for cafes, bakeries, coffee-houses, etc., 

 and by many other accomplishments of primary 

 importance to the public health. 



Dr. Nunez was born in Madruga in 1872, 

 graduated as Doctor of Medicine and Surgery 

 from the University of Havana (the oldest in 

 the New World) in 1892, obtaining at the early 

 age of twenty the highest awards in open com- 

 petition, given at the University, viz.: that of 

 Extraordinary Degree of Honour. 



At the outbreak of the War of Independence 

 in 1895, I^i"- Nunez at once gave up his large 

 and lucrative practice and joined the Army of 

 Liberation, of which he became the most brilliant 

 surgeon, serving alike friend and foe, and was 

 soon appointed Chief Surgeon of the Armies of 

 Generals Calixto Garcia and Mario G. Menocal. 



After the War he became lecturing professor 

 at the University of Havana and again took up 

 his practice, without at any time having taken 

 an active part in politics, until his entrance into 

 President Menocal's Cabinet in 1913. 



