Acknowledgments

My first acknowledgment goes to Dr. Nelson Dias Martins for his indispensable help in editing this book. While respecting my ideas, Nelson always demanded a simple and clear text. It was for both of us a rewarding experience because of the common interest in our professions, medicine and psychology.

My heart-felt muito obrigado (thank you) to my good friend and collaborator, Dr. T. Steven Tegu, who wrote the prologue and epilogue of my book. The professor has a phenomenal command of foreign languages, including my native, sonorous Portuguese. In addition, he has diverse, world experiences of the hard to-acquire variety. Through a process of osmosis, I have gained some of his knowledge. His sharing of his experiences with me, has enriched my own life.

To Mr. Roswell Bosworth Jr., Publisher of the four “Phoenix-Times” newspapers, I express my admiration for his foresight in publishing the Portuguese page in all his four editions. He and his family have strengthened the friendly ties between American and Portuguese peoples. I am most grateful to Mr. Bosworth for his valuable advice concerning details in the publication of this book. His friendship is greatly esteemed. I am also appreciative of the help of his staff: Donzilia Sousa who carefully did the typesetting; Lynda Rego who zealously supervised the composition; and Richard Luiz for his skillful photographic technique in reproducing the illustrations and the negatives for plate reproduction.

I am especially indebted to Mrs. Maria Aurora Perry and Mr. and Mrs. Edward Beavis for their critical review of the manuscript.

Thanks to my medical assistant, Mary Lou Rosa, for her subtle suggestions; to Alice Rodrigues and Jean Terry, medical secretaries, for typing part of the original manuscript.

I am thankful to Mrs. Anne Welch, Registered Nurse, President of the Federation of State Employed Nurses and Health Professionals (Rhode Island) for inviting me to give my first illustrated lecture at R.I. Veterans Home Auditorium, December 1st, 1982, on “The Electricity of Love.”

My thanks to James Sheusi for his original painting “The Sun and the Family” which appears on the last page of this book.

My acknowledgments to Mr. Eurico Mendes, Editor of newspaper “Comunidade”, for his courage in publishing in Portuguese my articles on sex and offering them to the Portuguese speaking community. 

Also I am most grateful to Mr. Raimundo Canto e Castro, Publisher of the “Portuguese Journal,” in Fall River, Ma., for his serial publication in Portuguese of the 26 chapters of this book.

I want also to acknowledge the many thousands of patients who have consulted me in the last twenty five years. They inspired me to write this book and helped me develop many of my ideas.

My acknowledgments to Mr. Aaron Slom, president of the Franklin Printing House and his staff for the fine job of printing this book.

My thanks to Crimilde Pontes for her help in obtaining the Library of Congress Catalog card number and the copyright.

Finally, I wish to remember with fondness my sons, Manuel (21) and Jose’ (19), and my wife Silvia, for the constructive criticism and encouragement they gave me during the writing of this book.

Manuel Luciano da Silva, M.D.

January 26, 1984