| OCR Text |
Show 156 Mexico, D.F., pp. 67-74. English Summary: Dr. Piedrahita surveys existing knowledge on the pathology of Indian tribes in Colombia. The thesis is not that these Indians have particular or autochthonous pathological processes, and that diseases suffered by the natives be studied by some commission maintaining a close relationship with the Inter-American Indian Institute. The pathological phenomena of the Colombian Indians may be divided into two large groups: 1) the parasitic and bacterial sicknesses, and 2) the diathetic or toxic. In the first group belong various skin, digestive and circulatory system diseases, including Leishmaniosis, which is fatal when it affects the mucous parts as well as the skin; pian, which causes skin lesions and affects the nervous system; pinto; ulcus tropicum, an ulcerous condition resultant of anemia and general malnutrition; onixis or onicomicosis, fungi attacking finger and toe nails and foot callouses; anemia, caused by intestinal worms; numerous intestinal diseases; endemic malaria; syphilis, influenza, tuberculosis and pneumonia, resulting from outside contact; and Blefaritis, an irritation of the eye region caused by certain mosquitos. Leprosy does not appear among the Indians although other skin diseases have been mistakenly diagnosed as leprous. The diseases of the second group are due to lack of nutritive elements and the presence of poisons in their diet. The alimentation of many of Colombia's Indians is simply manioc, bananas, very few juicy fruits and scarcely any meat. Because of the deficiencies in diet, tropical diseases and sicknesses introduced by outsiders, groups of Indians are in such wretched physical condition that they turn to "chicha," "aguardiente," benumbing herbs and hallucination causing plants, for refuge. In the southern regions the Indians chew coca leaves mixed with an alkaline base (lime, crushed marine shells, ashes of certain plants). Where the crude lime is used the natives get tongue and gum ulcerations which finally form scars and sometimes become cancerous. Saliva and the alkaloid released by the coca leaves cause superficial anesthesis of the mouth cavity, and with constant chewing, permanent cocainization of the upper digestive tract occurs. This anesthesia lessens feelings of thirst and hunger. Part of the alkaloid is absorbed by the nervous system, which is first stimulated and then, with the saturation point reached, degenerated. The constant mastication of the coca leaves and lime is encouraged by the land owners of the region who pay their Indian laborers much of their wages in coca leaves which are cultivated on the haciendas. Comas, Juan. "El Regimen Alimenticio y el Mejoramiento Indigena," America Indigena, II No. II (April, 1942), Mexico, D.F., pp.' 51-56. |
