History of Latin American Dermatology

JULIO CORREAOther plants managed to erase scars. Speaking of the Kurupaih of the northeast, anobserver states: “The natives employ the milk of this tree to cure fresh and old wounds...and say that the wounds to which this milk is applied do not leave any sign of a scar.”For the injuries from blows with the presence of hematomas, they not only used Kupaih,but also a concoction of the root of Boehmeria caudata, a very common Urticaceae.Tobacco was much employed for gangrenous wounds, even though the already mentionedbirthworts were more powerful. The Ka’átai (Poligonum acre) was used by the Indiansof the north. For ulcerations, in addition to the specific medication such as theakapu, a group of species of the Andira, the Avaramo, the Mimosa unguiscati — accordingto Mello Moraes — the Sihpakarihó (Davilla rugosa and D. brasilian), the manipuera,grated manioc dough with its juice, the Guapoih (Picus), the Penaihva, a type ofmanzanillo of the Antilles and Amazon (Hippomane) and many other plants. The Indianscured cancerous ulcerations with the sap of the penaihva tree. After drying them, theysurrounded them with a paste made of uruku with mud, so as not to spill the milk pouredinto the ulcer. The mortified tissues blackened, separates from the healthy part, and thealready clean wound was treated with Kupaih oil and emollient plants.They knew the methods of asepsis and disinfection. Mello Moraes speaks of an aromaticplant called Tarerokih, with which the natives perfumed themselves when they fell ill becausethey believed that it possessed anti-putrid qualities. For the same purpose the flowersof the Guavira (Campomanesia) and concoctions of Taperihua (Cassia) leaves, of the bark ofKavureih (Myrocarpus), of the derma of the Ihsihpo-Kati-paye (Aristolochia) were employed.Lastly we must point out that the Guaraní painted their body for various reasons:tribal identification, ornamentation, warrior character, religion, magical signification,mythical remembrance, initiation, ceremonial, festive, dances or games, protection or attraction,to drive away evil spirits, to instil fear, when reaching puberty (red or blue),during menstruation (black or blue), on dying people, during mourning (although not always),and at weddings. The widow, at the end of the mourning period (period of sexualabstinence), would paint her face red.Tattoos, although not frequent among the Guaraní, were made with the same paints,utilizing materials such as the thorns of the prickly pear or sharpened bone. The tattoowas practiced in a gradual manner; it was generally initiated at a young age, intensifiedat puberty and in adult age the definitive tattoos were applied.As for ornaments, some were used all life long and others depending on occasions ofa religious character, according the ethnic group, sex and age, among other factors. Atthe present time, among the Mby’á, Pañ and Chiripá, males until their wedding day liketo stick very brightly colored flowers behind their ears, or the strongly scented leaf of thecaraguatá moroti. The Mby’a carry the tembetá in their inferior lip; in earlier times itmust have consisted of a stone and today is almost always a Tacuarembó twig, or thetibia bones of birds the size of a chicken, with or without incrustations. The resin of theHyary, Mbary or Tembetary is also used to create these objects. The manufacturing techniqueconsists in putting a fine bamboo reed against the damaged trunk of one of thesetrees for the purpose of receiving the dripping liquid resin. After a few days, the tube isfull and the resin hardened, so that it can be freed from the shape that envelops it.Ear ornaments were only used by women 7 .■ Historical aspects of medicine in Paraguay.Relationship with DermatologyHistorical aspects of medicine in Paraguay. Relationship with DermatologyAfter the arrival of the first conquistadors, different events unfolded: the collision ofcultures, to put it some way, the legends of very rich towns that awoke the greed of manynavigators who accompanied those who came to take possession of the lands in the name294