[Sanitary control of communicable diseases in Hispanic America in the XVI, XVII, and XVIII centuries].
In each time and each place, man has avoided diseases, has tried to limit diffusion of diseases. The purpose of this article was to present in a general manure the measures taken in Hispano America during colonial times to control communicable diseases. The main problems of health during the XVI, XVII, and XVIII centuries, in Hispano American region were communicable diseases. Practices to avoid them derived from observation, control measures referred to stay away from the contagious places, and to isolate sick persons by means of quarantine, and implied some epidemiologic surveillance. The supply of safe drinking water, sewage disposal systems and sanitary control of food were not habitual practices; garbage, residuals, and waste collection were not opportune, This favored the existence of vectors-insects and animals. Domestic waste did not go away in a timely fashion, it allowed to accumulate excreta and waste near houses. In some places, the were measures related to water supply, excreta disposal, handling of dead bodies, and environmental sanitation. It was believed that with prayers and processions, prevalent diseases could be avoided. Demographic information, data on mortality, births, and morbidity, were irregular and incompletes, some data were compiled in parishes: physicians should inform and notify the governmental medical board, which regulated medicine and public heath who the cared for an action carried out only as and exception. Compiled data had no clear medical or sanitary use.
Fajardo-Ortiz
Guillermo
G
Departamento de Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina, UNAM. gfortiz@servidor.unam.mx
Ferrer-Burgos
Yolloxóchitl
Y
D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000266:history*; D004813:Epidemiology / Q000266:history*; D049669:History, 16th Century; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D006801:Humans; D007843:Latin America