2003, Number 1
The public health situation in Mexico (1870-1960)
Rivera TJA
Full text
Language: Spanish
References: 11
Page: 40-44
PDF size: 55.30 Kb.
ABSTRACT
Mexico during the period of 1870-1960 presented important changes regarding the social life and health, because 91% of the inhabitants belonged to the poorest sector. The feeding of the farmhands was insufficient, the hygiene was terrible, they didn’t have tap water, hygienic latrines, toilets and drainage. The water was obtained from natural fountains, without official interest in its cleaning, until final of the XIX century when the sanitary drainage was implemented. The gratuitous restrooms in 1901 gave service to 1 of 12,000 habitants, therefore it doesn’t surprise us that bad nourished tired and dirty people, were easy prey of infections produced by microorganisms and parasites. Due to this social advance of our nation, the poorest population died from hunger or of small pox, but the important thing was to maintain a sanitary cord between decent people and populace masses, 35,430 vaccines were in the Distrito Federal available and 5,273 for the rest of the states. The precarious sanitary situation of the country decayed as consequence of the social situation, in such a way the Pathological Institute disappeared and the Academy of Medicine was expelled of its place in 1913. The National Bacteriological Institute was dissolved and the Hospital General changed six times of director between 1911 and 1914, it was evident that the revolutionary government could not be in charge of the science. It is even the question if the revolution fulfilled in definitive, one of the most urgent tasks the duty of improving the health of Mexicans.REFERENCES