LOS COMIENZOS DE LA MEDICINA

Summary

This video script explores the evolution of healthcare in Argentina, beginning with the colonial era. It highlights the poor living conditions and the constant threat of diseases like cholera, yellow fever, and smallpox. The script traces the emergence of medical practices, such as bloodletting and the use of leeches, and discusses the role of boticarios (pharmacists), barbers, and early doctors. It also covers the establishment of hospitals, the creation of medical institutions like the University of Buenos Aires, and the transition to modern public health policies that ensure healthcare as a social right for all. The script emphasizes the progress from colonial practices to contemporary healthcare.

Takeaways

• 😀 The state of health and medicine in colonial Buenos Aires was poor, with a lack of hygiene and frequent epidemics such as cholera, yellow fever, and smallpox.
• 😀 The arrival of Spanish settlers brought health challenges, with diseases spreading due to unsanitary conditions, overcrowding, and inadequate public health measures.
• 😀 Authorities took preventive actions only after epidemics broke out, including quarantine measures and ordering the burning of infected clothing and furniture.
• 😀 In the colonial era, there was no real concept of hygiene or disease prevention, and health responses were often reactive rather than proactive.
• 😀 Barbers, who also served as bloodletters and dentists, were responsible for procedures like bloodletting and extracting teeth, often without formal medical training.
• 😀 Bloodletting, performed by barbers and specialists called sangradores, was based on the belief that it cured diseases by removing 'impurities' from the blood.
• 😀 The first doctors in the Río de la Plata region were Portuguese, followed by Spanish doctors, with tensions arising between licensed professionals and local quacks or herbalists.
• 😀 The 'protomedicato,' an institution controlling medical practice, was created in the Spanish colonies to regulate health professionals and prevent quackery.
• 😀 Early hospitals were often run by religious orders, focusing more on isolation and quarantine than on actual treatment, with many citizens preferring in-home care.
• 😀 The establishment of the University of Buenos Aires in 1821 and the creation of a public health system marked the beginning of modern medical education and healthcare reform in Argentina.

Q & A

What were the main health challenges in Buenos Aires during the colonial period?

During the colonial period, the main health challenges in Buenos Aires included diseases like cholera, typhus, yellow fever, and especially smallpox. These epidemics frequently claimed lives and left survivors with permanent scars, such as the famous smallpox-scarred face of Mariano Moreno.

How did the city's poor hygiene contribute to the spread of diseases in colonial Buenos Aires?

The city's poor hygiene, including unpaved streets and abundant vacant lots, created an environment where diseases could spread easily. The lack of sanitation and the absence of preventive health measures allowed infections to thrive, especially with the influx of infected slaves from ships.

What was the role of the 'buenos aires' port in disease transmission during the colonial period?

The Buenos Aires port played a significant role in the transmission of diseases. It was a major point of entry for various infections due to the constant arrival of slaves who had been crowded in ships, infested with rats and unsanitary conditions, posing a public health risk.

What health measure did Juan José de Vértiz y Salcedo introduce in 1774 to combat infectious diseases?

Juan José de Vértiz y Salcedo, the governor of the Río de la Plata province, introduced health measures such as requiring doctors and surgeons to report deaths from contagious diseases. He also mandated the burning of clothing and furniture suspected to be contaminated, and regulated the water source to prevent contamination.

What was the significance of moving cemeteries to the outskirts of Buenos Aires in the 18th century?

In the 18th century, cemeteries were moved to the outskirts of the city as a health measure to prevent the spread of disease. Until then, people had been buried near churches or in nearby areas, which were unsanitary. This change was resisted due to religious beliefs, but it was seen as necessary to reduce contamination in urban areas.

How did barbers play a role in medical care during the colonial period?

Barbers in the colonial period not only cut hair but also performed medical tasks such as bloodletting and tooth extraction. They were authorized to carry out these procedures by the government and were an essential part of healthcare, as trained medical professionals were scarce.

Why was bloodletting considered an important medical practice during the colonial period?

Bloodletting was believed to be essential for curing various ailments, as it was thought that many physical diseases were caused by impurities in the blood. The practice was carried out using methods like leeches or direct cuts to drain blood from the body, with the belief that it would restore balance to the body.

How did the arrival of doctors in the Río de la Plata during the Spanish colonization impact healthcare?

The arrival of doctors in the Río de la Plata during the Spanish colonization introduced formal medical practices, although they were still few in number. Doctors, such as those accompanying Pedro de Mendoza in 1536, played key roles in managing health crises, like when Mendoza suffered from syphilis.

What role did the Protomedicato play in colonial health regulation?

The Protomedicato was established to regulate medical practices in the colony, overseeing the qualifications of doctors, surgeons, and barbers. It acted as a health ministry and school of medicine, ensuring that those who practiced medicine had appropriate training and experience.

How did the creation of the Universidad de Buenos Aires in 1821 contribute to the development of healthcare in Argentina?

The creation of the Universidad de Buenos Aires in 1821 was pivotal in the development of healthcare in Argentina. It marked the beginning of public higher education and contributed to the professionalization of medicine. It also led to the establishment of the Faculty of Medicine, which continues to play a crucial role in training healthcare professionals.