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Notices of the Epidemics of 1719-20 and 1759 in Peru

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Notices of the Epidemics of 1719-20 and 1759 in Peru 134 NpTICES OF THE EPIDEMICS OF 1719-20 AND *1759 IN PERU; ALSO OF THE MEXICAN HE- MORRHAGIC DISEASE OF 1736 AND 1855. By ARCHIBALD SMITH, M.D. (Read Nov. 2nd, 1863.) In the Lima Medical Gazette of 15th March, 1862, we find a narrative from the manuscript of an old Cuzco chronicler, regarding the epidemic that reigned in that city and depart- ment in the year 1720. It begins by stating that in the month of April, 1720, Cuzco was visited by a pestilence which, early in the preceding year, commenced in Buenos Ay res, and from thence extended northward as far as Gua- manga, or Huancavilica, in Central Peru. From the perusal of this document, we learn that it was considered to be of the nature of typhus?a malignant tabardillo?so violent and deadly that it hardly admitted of any remedy. The symptoms enumerated are intense fever, with vehe- ment headache, and pain of abdomen; some were seized with phrenzy, others with blood by the mouth, and black blood from the nostrils, or with vomiting of blood, which was always a bad sign. But the symptoms appear to have varied very -much in different cases or circumstances; for the historian remarks, that they were so different, and even contradictory, that no correct diagnosis, or curative plan, could be fixed. The disease proved very fatal to pregnant women; and after the fever ceased, some of those who had been afflicted by it succumbed to other complications?as dysentery. In the midst of so much necessity and obscurity many expedients were resorted to, and new remedies tried; but many cases of cure appeared to be altogether accidental. For example, individuals impatient of the burning heat and restlessness of the fever, threw themselves into the cold- bath and recovered; while others, with equal advantage, drank freely of cold water; and there were not wanting in- stances of those whose bodies were deposited in the cemetery for dead, but again restored to life. That this pestilence was was particularly contagious," evinced by its ravages among the barbers," and other attendants on the sick, as well as those who assisted at the EPIDEMICS IN PERU. 135 interments ; and it was observed that the greater number of the llamas and donkeys employed in carrying the dead bodies to their graves were affected with the emission of blood from the mouth. Under such afflicting circumstances public processions, prayers, and rogatories were resorted to, in order to avert the pestilence from a people whom the chronicler describes as so hardened in their vices, that they felt unmoved by the " common calamity. He emphatically relates that The white race in particular continued their strife, theft, fraud, scan- dals, injustice, and other iniquitous practices with greater eagerness than ever, and passed their time in diversions and gambling." During the height of the epidemic, the deaths in the city of Cuzco were no fewer than 100 per day. The days of greatest mortality were the 6th, 10th, 15th of August, and the 2nd of September?the maximum of deaths being 700 on the 10th of August. This climax in the rate of mortality was preceded on the night of the 26th of July by the unu- sual appearance to the northward of an extensive igneous phenomenon, or aurora borealis, which very much fright- ened the inhabitants. According to the most judicious estimates, 2000 persons died of this epidemic in the city of Cuzco ; and in other provinces, towns, and villages of the episcopate, the deaths were 4000?" entre Espanoles, Indios, y parbulos, including Spaniards, Indians, and young children." In all 6000, little more or less, though some were of opinion that the gross amount of deaths exceeded 8000. In the midst of so much confusion no exact register was kept; but in this, as in all other epidemics, such as measles, small-pox, etc., the indigent native was the greatest sufferer. In the month of November, 1T20, the epidemic began to abate in Cuzco, where it had reigned since the end of March or beginning of April; and it soon ceased altogether, as the rainy season was fully established in the following month of December. For two years after there was a scarcity of pro- visions, though not from deficient seasonal rains, nor sterility of soil, but in consequence of the want of hands to gather in the harvest during the first year, and the scarcity of labourers in the succeeding, on account of the depopulation caused by the pestilence.* * In the Lima Almanac, 1795, this epidemic of 1710-1720 is briefly noticed by Dr. Cosmo Bueno, who further records that a strong earthquake was experienced in Huarnanga on the 17th June, 1719. 136 EPIDEMICS IN PERU. We find the same pest alluded to in cursory terms Dr. " by Unanue under the denomination catarro-maligno," as the consequence of an eclipse of the sun, which, on the 15th of August, 1719 (just at the period of new moon), at the hour of eleven and forty-nine minutes, a.m., extended from 17 degrees 29 min. south latitude, to 40 degrees 13 min.; and for a long time the day was converted into night over those wide regions, as far as the River Plate and the ocean. Dr. Unanue remarks, that in all those southern provinces, the eclipse was followed by the most fearful pestilence ever, up to that period, known in Peru. But the Cuzco chroni- cler, who also notices this remarkable eclipse, suggests that as the epidemic had commenced on the side of Buenos Ay res, before this phenomenon had occurred, it could not be considered as the primary cause of the infection. The symptoms of the disease given by Unanue are the following:?" Prostration ofstrength; excessive pains through- out the body, and especially in the costal region (en especial al costado) ; spitting of blood; difficult respiration ; and little fever (y poca jiebre).* Now, if we only look at the hemorrhagic aspect of this epidemic, as described at Cuzco, we are struck by its resem- " blance in this respect to the Matlazahuatl epidemic" of the Mexican table lands, as related by Humboldt, Essai Politique, liv. 5, ch. xii, but when the comparison is made with more precision, wide differences will be observed. While Dr. Unanue of Lima describes the Peruvian epidemic of 1720 as grippe, or a severe catarrhal disorder, the Cuzco chronicler represents the same epidemic, as witnessed in his <e department, more under the character of the ardent cau- son" of Greek writers. And the common tradition of Hua- manga and other Sierra districts of Peru, still preserves the memory of the dreadful cephalalgia that characterised this pes- tilence under the significant name "fierro-chuto," or iron-cap. This iron-capped, contagious fever exhibited as one of its most prominent symptoms nasal haemorrhage. In this parti- cular it much resembled the non-contagious Mexican disorder called the Matlazahuatl. But it disappeared as the rainy season was established, whereas the Matlazahuatl only reigned during the rainy months. We are told that this latter malady is almost exclusively confined to the indigenous Indian race, and to the colder regions at the elevation of * " Observationes sobre el Clima de Lima", p. 124, where the author indi- cates as authority, the treatise of Botoni, " On the Circulation of the Blood," printed in Lima, 1723. EPIDEMICS IN PEliU. 137 from twelve to thirteen hundred fathoms above the sea. But neither of these conditions belonged to the Peruvian pesti- lence of 1719-20. We have shown that it attacked the white race, or Spaniard ; and far from being the offspring of the cold Cordillera, it originated in the warm maritime pre- cincts of the Rio de la Plata, where, so recently as 1858, yellow fever had intruded itself from the Brazils. In the progress of this epidemic of 1719-20 northward from Buenos Ayres to Central Peru, it diverged eastward from Cuzco into the warm and humid woodlands on the Atlantic side of the Andes, where it is reported to have produced its greatest mortality among the savage tribe of Chuncho In- dians.* Of the Peruvian epidemic of the year 1759, we have spe- cial intimation in the Noticias Americanas, p. 202-3, by Don Antonio de Ulloa. This malady, like that of 1719-20, took its rise in the southern or south-east provinces. Its precise place and manner of origin was not easily traced in regions so extensive and remote ; but when it was first heard of by those who lived near the Equator, it had already arrived at Chuquisaca and Potosi, whence it extended to La Paz, Oruro, Chucuito, Cuzco, Guamanga, Guancavilaca, Iauja, and Lima; and it continued its course through other provinces along coast and mountains?" alto y bajo"?until it reached Quito. Its progress was extremely rapid, for in the short space of five or six days not one individual, young or old, remained free from its attack, though some were affected less severely than others.f The streets were aban- doned and desert; the market places had neither buyers nor sellers; the houses were solitary, with all their inmates prostrate. Ulloa remarks, that "The providence of God only permitted the disease to continue in force in well-con- stituted individuals for two or three days; and though by the end of this time they remained excessively weak, they could in some degree help others in a worse condition than themselves." The symptoms of this as Ulloa, con- " pestilence, given by sist of great dizziness and heaviness of the head ; a feeble- ness in all the senses ; strong pains all over the body ; fever moderate?" calentura no muy violenta," literally, not very violent; general lassitude ; blood from the mouth and nos- # " Unanue, Sobre el Clima de Lima", ? vii, p.
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