History of Latin American Dermatology

The Indians of Uruguay and their relationship with DermatologyFélix de Azara (1796) says regarding the Charrúa: “Their physicians apply the sameremedy to all manner of ailments, namely sucking very hard on the patient’s stomach,persuading him that the evils are thus extracted for gratification.” Regarding the Minuanehe adds, “They cure their patients sucking on the their stomachs like the Charrúa”26 . The method of sucking, said the Austrian Jesuit Dobrizhoffer, extended to “anulcer or bleeding wound obtaining a real profit... in snake bites,” and he stated that itwas a common method throughout the Americas 34 .In 1812, Colonel Díaz stated that the Charrúa allowed women to practice healing: hementioned the existence of “squaws who officiated as physicians among them” 34 .The rubbing consisted in scrubbing the patient with the fat of rhea, aguará tigre, armadillo,iguana or fish and then rubbing the body with leather; rubbing with hot asheswas also practiced. The ceremonies were sometimes accompanied by placing smokingherbs around the patient 22 .Dr. Schiaffino tells us that bloodletting was not only used but commonly abusedamong the Charrúa races; it was employed not only to alleviate ailments but to feellighter, making their raiding easier, or for their solemn and funerary ceremonies. TheGuaraní applied bloodletting to veins of the head, elbow or calf, according to whetherthey sought to cure headaches, fevers or other ailments.Baths were among their favorite therapeutic procedures; the Charrúa preferred coldbaths and the Guaraní, hot ones. Our rivers were reputed to having healing powers. In hiswork History of the Conquest Lozano, repeating an Indian source, attributes healing powersto the Hum (Negro River) “since, from its very source, it runs through land very abundantin sarsaparrilla.” In his research into the descendants of Artigas, N. Caula mentionsthat on May 21, 1802, King Charles IV of Spain awarded Santo Domingo de Soriano theTitle of “very noble, brave and loyal Town and Port of the Health of the Negro River,” dueto the healing powers of its waters. The latter were analyzed in Paris in 1877 by thechemist Hill, who in his report concluded, “The waters of the Negro River belong to thespecial group of the sulfide-sulfurates and are certified for the healing of diseases of theskin and of the abdominal viscera as well as of intestinal obstruction and syphilis virus.”In that period many eminent Buenos Aires families would visit these waters by medicalprescription.Schiaffino, for his part, states that in the practice of aligning fractures and dislocations,analogous procedures were applied all over the continent; the museum in La Plata(Argentina) shows perfectly consolidated bones. According to the geographical area, diverseplants were used; the Guaraní employed the Caapitá Guazú, and in our latitudes,probably, the carob tree and peppertree 34 .Not everything was magical or symbolic in Indian medicine; in tandem with this therealso existed some type of methodical research over hundred of years, capable of determiningthe healing powers of plants and flowers, as well as relationships, causes and effects,which have continued up to our days in oral tradition.Father Furlong states that “between the medicine of the Americas and that of Europethere was no clash, but rather an embrace.” In many narratives of the conquest — GonzaloFernández de Oviedo, Alonso de Zurita, Cieza de León and the Inca Garcilaso,among other authors — there are numerous notes on Indian botany and medicine 35 .In 1522 Hernán Cortés, after having been cured by Aztec physicians, wrote the emperors,“Physicians should not be allowed to come to New Spain, the native ones sufficing” 36 .In 1570 Philip II, in one of the Laws of the Indies (Volume V Title 6), stated his wishthat a compilation be sent to Spain of the Indians’ knowledge of medicinal plants, herbsand seeds as well as of the form of preparing, ingesting, applying and cultivating them.He himself, along with the Council of the Indies, sent his own physician, FranciscoHernández, on one of the many expeditions, along with two Mexican draftsmen whorecorded 3,000 plants with 2,000 illustrations.397