Alicia,

That was so tragic that he died in the end; but what a great story about the empathy people had for each other not only in their own community, but all along the way. I know that some people survived with permanent disabling injuries after accidents. I guess sometimes it was better they died. Otherwise they would really be a burden to their families. There was no prenatal or preventive care, and no recourse for rapes, and other crimes. Some people, like my one great-grandmother were herbalists for their communities who would help by massage therapy and potions, etc. People did what they could. We are so lucky to be living in an age where there are people like Ed to make our lives more comfortable.

I have seen records where several families were wiped out at once due to being attacked by marauding Indians-- "muerto a manos de los hindios barbaros". I had one great-grandfather die after falling off his horse. That would happen a lot. Another great-grandfather was shot to death by robbers. A great uncle had a stroke and lived for years paralyzed; his oldest son was only about 14 and he had to become the man in the family and take over their cantina and restaurant because his siblings were mostly girls and his mother had to tend to the father.

Emilie

----- Original Message -----
From: Alicia Carrillo
To: research@nuestrosranchos.org
Sent: Thursday, May 17, 2007 10:48 PM
Subject: Re: [Nuestros Ranchos] Defunciones translations

Ed,

My mother and great aunts have shared many factual stories about hardships in these very rural areas. Where my family comes from is Tlachichila Zacatecas in the municipality of Nochistlan. Mom says that when she was a little girl in the ranchos outside of Tlachichila there were no doctors in Tlachichila or Nochistlan, the nearest MD's were in Teocaltiche or Aguascalientes. Mom is 82 so this must have been between 1930 and 1940.

Mom had a brother who died as a result of an accident, a stone wall fell on him and crushed him in the chest. There were no vehicles and no paved roads. Mom said that the men of the town constructed a cot and between several men they carried him to Aguascalientes on foot. It took them over a week to carry the cot/stretcher on foot. As they traveled the word would spread and they would get more men on the way to help and every night they would spend the night at some good samaritan's home who would feed them all.

Can you imagine the pain her brother endured over several days and can you imagine the dedication of those who carried him day after day. Just like this story I'm sure there are many more similar or even more gruesome.

For the most part, people died due to lack of medical care.
Alicia

----- Original Message ----
From: Edward Serros >
To: research@lists.nuestrosranchos.org
Sent: Thursday, May 17, 2007 9:32:12 PM
Subject: [Nuestros Ranchos] Defunciones translations

I agree with the translations but I am sure that in many of the cases they do not really tell you what the person really died of. I have reviewed death records from the late 1700's and the 1800's in Jalisco and Zacatecas and what strikes me are the epidemics of "fiebre," which can represent any number of infectious diseases---viral or bacterial. I have no idea of what the diagnosis was when they refer to "cerebral" or "dolor" or whatever. Furthermore the funeral record is being recorded by a priest, who has little or no knowledge of medicine.

I think it is safe to say that a large proportion of the population unfortunately died of infectious diseases for which there was no treatment available at that time. Can you imagine no antibiotic therapy for pneumonia, ear infections, throat infections, skin infection, infected wounds, tuberculosis, lepropsy, etc.? Can you imagine no surgical therapy for appendicitis or cholecystitis (gall stone attack) or heart disease? Can you imagine giving birth to a child where there was no treatment for eclampsia (toxemia) of pregnancy or where there were no surgical options for birth of a child who was not going to be delivered in the usual (vaginal) manner. Can you imagine no treatment for high blood pressure or diabetes?

Bottom line: it was a different world. Take the diagnosis of death with a grain of salt, to say the least.

I know that there are other physicians that are part of this group who may wish to comment on the above

Edward Serros, MD