History of Latin American Dermatology

History of Dermatology among Argentine indigenous culturesBirth and rearingShortly after being delivered, the newbornwere lathered with damp gypsum. Accordingto Ludwig Karsten (1926), thisprocedure had the aim of protecting thechild against evil spirits. The same authormentions other practices such as the applicationof red paint, smearing with oil andfumigation with tobacco, carried out for thesame purpose.After their fourth birthday, there followedthe ceremony of the piercing of one or twoearlobes, according to gender, introducinghorsehair fibers in the incisions, to preventhealing.They were aware of the epidemic natureof diseases, although the latter were nameless,and attempted to neutralize their infectiouscharacter by spreading out theirhuts over the areas they inhabited.In general, the Patagón enjoyed goodhealth, their injuries healing rapidly. Thewitch doctor, by means of the ceremoniesdescribed, indicated the preparation ofbrews with medical-healing properties.They knew the practice of bloodletting andknew how to open a vein with a piece ofseashell or flint.EctoparasitosisChildren and adults were carriers offleas and lice, owing to the employment ofguanaco wool and rhea feathers in theirclothing and domestic utensils.Extreme Magellanic southVenereal diseases sealed a horizon of hopelessness both for the Alacaluf and for theOna and Yaghan. It is believed they were unaware of herbs and of animal and mineralbyproducts for the healing of diseases.Transculturation was another negative factor for the survival of these ethnic groups,as was the pitiless exhibition to which they were subjected in the nineteenth century indiverse European cities.Epilogue■ Extreme Magellanic south■ EpilogueDistribution ofthe Indianpopulation ofArgentinaat the end ofthe twentiethcentury.Source:Instituto deCulturaPopular(Incupo-Endepa)The author agrees with the outstanding genealogists Diego Herrera Vegas and CarlosJáuregui Rueda in that the foundational trunk of our country is derived from three ethnic29